In 2017 the City received a grant to design green stormwater infrastructure elements within the Habersham Village area. Green infrastructure uses natural processes to reduce flooding and protect tidal creeks and rivers from the pollution in stormwater runoff. Upon completion of the design in 2018, the Georgia Environmental Protection Division offered the City a 73/27 cost-share grant to install portions of the design plans. The northeast area of Habersham Village was selected as the most effective way to utilize funds and make a positive impact. Jacob G Smith Elementary School encounters building and street flooding annually. When Lamar Drive floods the buses must drive up on the sidewalk to load and unload children creating a public safety hazard with pedestrians also trying to use the sidewalk. Residents along Battey and Sussex are restricted from using Lamar and furthermore, the backlog of water coming from this area increases the strain on the drainage infrastructure along Habersham. In order to reduce flooding using green infrastructure practices funds will be used to install pavers on Lamar Drive, install a cistern, four rain gardens, and new stormdrain portal covers. In addition rain barrels will be purchased and installed for all interested residences along Battey and Sussex.

The 73/27 cost-share dollars are Federal $200,000 and Local $75,000 for a project total of $275,000. For Savannah's share $35,000 will be staff labor or in-kind match for work on the project, $30,000 will come from the Streets Department for the pavers, and the remaining $10,000 will come from Water Resources for the rain barrels and community outreach activities.

This project accomplishes 3 goals within the Water Resources Division. The first is to address the City’s Strategic Priority to Reduce Street Flooding. The second is to make progress on the Vernon River Watershed Management Plan for reducing fecal coliform pollution in Casey Canal. The third is to demonstrate the benefits of green stormwater infrastructure practices to the development community as stated in Georgia’s Coastal Nonpoint Source Management Plan: “Urban Nonpoint Source Program – Stormwater, Short Term Goal 1.1, page 57: Encourage and support installation of GI/LID practices in order to provide local-specific data on BMP cost, performance, and installation and maintenance requirements.”

Approval