LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
New Storm Water Facility Will Help Prevent Major Flood Events at Airport Medford,OR|August2022|PressRelease T he Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport has recently constructed a unique system for catching, treating, and releasing excess rainwater Potential major ǡood events were also considered in the design of the storm water facility. Per FAA criteria, the design of the detention pond portion of the facility can fully drain within 48 hours after a “25-year storm event,” a term used to describe the largest rainstorm that happens every 25 years.
that promises to protect from ǡoods for many years. With a large percentage of airport surface area being covered with impervious concrete or asphalt, ǡooding becomes a concern, as well as polluted runoff entering the nearby stream. This is what the new storm water facility aims to prevent. Unlike the previous water catchment system, the new facility treats and detains the water before it is funneled into Upton Creek. It was also designed to meet FAA criteria to deter wildlife from inhabiting the system. This is because, unlike a water retention pond, the storm water facility is designed to collect a storm surge and release excess rainwater at a controlled rate rather than letting it pool and stagnate.
“The overall goal of a project like this is to improve the quality of life for the neighbors and wildlife downstream of the airport,” says Josh Lekkerkerker of Precision Approach Engineering, the Ǟrm that designed the facility. “The water leaving the bioǞltration system is typically cleaner than the stream because soil sediment typically found in streams has been collected in the Ǟltration system.” This project was funded by a 4-million-dollar FAA grant, with additional matching dollars from Jackson County. For more information, visit www.jacksoncountyor.org/ airport n
38
The Business Review | August 2022
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online