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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVirginia Beach Coastal Stormwater Risk Management Study UpdateVirginia Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study Update City Council Briefing 1 LJ Hansen | April 21, 2026 Agenda •Stormwater Overview& Purpose of Briefing •Background & Study Evolution •New USACE Requirements •Early Actionable Element Recommendation •Candidate Options •Staff Recommendation •Element Benefits •Funding Overview •Timeline •Next Steps 2 Stormwater Elements Overview 3 Stormwater Operations Flood Protection Program (FPP) Regulatory Coastal Storm Risk Management Stormwater Fund (ERU) 4 Stormwater Operations Flood Protection Program (FPP) Regulatory Coastal Storm Risk Management 2.5¢ Real Estate Dedication (Stormwater Lockbox) 5 Stormwater Operations Flood Protection Program (FPP) Regulatory Coastal Storm Risk Management 4.1¢ Real Estate Dedication (Flood Protection Lockbox) 6 Stormwater Operations Flood Protection Program (FPP) Regulatory Coastal Storm Risk Management Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) 7 Stormwater Operations Flood Protection Program (FPP) Regulatory Coastal Storm Risk Management Purpose of Briefing •Update City Council on CSRM Study status and new USACE requirements •Explain the need to select one Early Actionable Element to maintain study schedule •Present staff’s recommended Early Actionable Element •Request City Council concurrence to advance the recommended element. 8 Background •Study is the first step to getting federal funding assistance – “New Start” •Study focuses exclusively on coastal storm inundation – not recurrent rainfall (Flood Protection Program) •Evaluates long-term coastal storm risks across 6 Planning Areas •Develops strategies for protecting life and property over a 50-year horizon •Incorporates sea level rise and storm surge modeling 9 Study Evolution •2022 (July): Study launched under USACE “SMART” framework: •3-year limit •$3M cap ($1.5M City Share) •3 levels of Corps engagement throughout (District, Division, & Headquarters) •Chief’s Report signed at ~10% design •2023 (Jan): Reclassified as “Complex” due to interconnected flooding •Budget increased to $5.5M, schedule extended to Spring 2026 •2023 (Jun): Revised Headquarters Direction •More Robust modeling, geotechnical work, and Class 3 cost estimate •Total cost now $13.5M (6.67M City Share), completion extended to Spring 2028 10 SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Risk-Informed, Timely New USACE Requirements •Early Actionable Element Requirement •35% design maturity required before the Chief’s Report can be signed •Must include Class 3 cost estimate •Only one structural measure in a planning area can advance initially •What This Means for Virginia Beach •USACE Norfolk District cannot advance all structural options simultaneously •City must identify one Early Actionable Element to keep the CSRM Feasibility Study on schedule •All remaining options remain part of the comprehensive plan for advancement in later phases under existing authority 11 Early Actionable Element – Candidate Options Six Candidate Planning Area Locations: •Back Bay •Elizabeth River •Little Creek •Lynnhaven Inlet •Rudee Inlet + Oceanfront Floodwall •West Neck Creek 12 Staff Recommendation Recommended Early Actionable Element: Lynnhaven Inlet Surge Barrier 13 Recommendation based on: •Lynnhaven inlet and connected waterways affects a large area with a significant population, experiencing some of the greatest impacts from flooding •A surge barrier here would have the potential to afford immediate benefit and protection Staff Recommendation Recommended Early Actionable Element: Lynnhaven Inlet Surge Barrier 14 •Surge barrier across Lynnhaven Inlet with a rising sector gate and Tainter gates •Floodwalls and fortified dunes along bay and ocean sides •Ultimately creates continuous Chesapeake Bay → Fort Story protection line Lynnhaven Inlet Storm Surge Barrier Concept High-risk Interior Neighborhoods 15 Bay Island Ocean Park, Mariners Landing Lynnhaven Colony High-risk Interior Neighborhoods 16 •Lynnhaven Inlet is the source of tidal flooding for much of the City •Affecting tidal levels in: •Central Resort •Bay Colony •Great Neck •Town Center •Windsor Woods/Princess Anne Plaza Lynnhaven Inlet Storm Surge Barrier Concept 17Example of Tainter gates – Fox Point Hurricane Barrier, Providence, Rhode Island Gate Open Gate Closed Lynnhaven Inlet Storm Surge Barrier Concept 18Example of rising sector gates – Thames Barrier in London Gate Open Gate Closed How the Gates Might Be Utilized – Very Preliminary 19Slide Captured from USACOE Coordination Briefing Hurricane vs Nor’easter 20Slide Captured from USACOE Coordination Briefing Closure Frequency – Very Preliminary 21Slide Captured from USACOE Coordination Briefing Funding Overview Total Study Cost: $13.5M, City Local Share: $6.67M (CIP 100512) •$4.25M appropriated to date •$2.4M programmed for FY27–FY28 •No additional City funding is needed right now to advance the Early Actionable Element After the 35% design and Chief’s Report, the project becomes eligible for congressional authorization—the step required for future federal appropriations for design and construction 22 Timeline 23 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Feasibility Phase Tentatively Selected Plan Draft Feasibility Report Command Validation Final Feasibility Report Signed Chief's Report PED Phase Design Agreement (DA), Detailed Construction Plans Construction Phase Congressional Authorization (WRDA) & Appropriation, Project Partnership Agreement (PPA), Construction Start PED – Preconstruction Engineering & Design WRDA – Water Resources Development Act FY27/28 Design Funding FY29/30 Const. Funding 35% City Funding Required May 2028 FY28/29 Funding - Second Element Feasibility Report 50% City Funding Required What We Seek from City Council Today •Concurrence on the selection of the Lynnhaven Surge Barrier and associated infrastructure as the Early Actionable Element OR.. •Provide Alternative Direction 24 Next Steps – If Council Concurs •Complete 35% design for the selected Early Actionable Element •Plan and Program Local Matching Funds (65/35 Cost Share) •Explore Feasibility of USACE Section 203 opportunities to advance additional measures, including: •Using City funding to complete 35% design on another measure •Submitting a Section 203 report to USACE for review and potential approval •Enabling a locally advanced measure to become federally authorized •Allowing progress on additional elements without waiting for the full CSRM study timeline. 25 THANK YOU QUESTIONS? 26