Title
Requisition No. REQ-0000348
Southeast Michigan Flood and Storm Damage Reduction General Investigation Study
O&M
Body
Agenda of: April 23, 2025
Item No.: 2025-127
Amount: $2,612,133.39
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: April 3, 2025
RE: Requisition No. REQ-0000348
Southeast Michigan Flood and Storm Damage Reduction General Investigation Study
Vendor: Limno-Tech, Inc.
Status: New Contract/PO
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Todd King, Chief Resiliency Officer - Executive Office, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Requisition No. REQ-0000348, “Southeast Michigan Flood and Storm Damage Reduction General Investigation Study” with Limno-Tech, Inc., at a cost not to exceed $2,612,133.39 for a duration of 1,825 days; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
Southeast Michigan has experienced repeated, widespread flooding for decades and has received five (5) federal disaster declarations due to flooding since 2000. Flooding in the region has resulted from more intense and frequent rainfall, storms, and fluctuating Great Lakes and connecting corridor water levels. This flooding causes damage to structures and infrastructure, impacts the local, regional, and national economy, and creates social hardship for Michiganders. The transportation system includes numerous below-grade highways, which require pumps to clear streets during rain events. During large storms, these highways can be closed for days at a time. Basement backups are increasingly common in portions of the region during large storms, where local or downstream surcharging leads to recurring household flooding.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there have been more than 260,000 flooding related claims in the study area since 2004. Ninety-seven percent of the claims in Detroit occur outside FEMA’s Special Flood Hazard Area, highlighting a significant urban flooding issue in the region.
In August 2014, the region experienced record-breaking rainfall of more than six (6) inches in four (4) hours resulting in a federal disaster declaration. Another federal disaster declaration was issued after more than six (6) inches of rain fell within 24 hours on June 26, 2021. After the June 2021 rain events, the Great Lakes Water Authority worked with congressional representatives to authorize a study under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2022 legislation. In 2024, the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) received an initial $500,000.00 to begin the study. There is an additional $600,000.00 request in the Federal FY26 budget for this project and a typical WRDA project has a $3 million, 3-year time frame to complete. The non-Federal sponsor (GLWA) is required to contribute cash or in-kind contributions to match the federal expenditures on a 50/50 basis.
JUSTIFICATION
Based on the requirements and expertise necessary to complete the study, GLWA has elected to procure a consultant to provide the necessary modeling and engineering expertise to complete in-kind contribution to meet the federal 50/50 match. Please note that WRDA authorizes the USACE to complete the work, but funding must be provided separately through the annual appropriations process. As noted in the Background, the usual budget and timeline for these general investigations are 3 years and $3,000,000.00. GLWA staff is requesting an initial $2,612,000.00 contract upper limit as an interim amount prior to USACE management approval of final project scope and budget. USACE is requesting additional funding and time to complete the comprehensive study with a budget of approximately $10,500,000.00 over 7.5 years. The full project scope is under review by the USACE vertical project delivery team. Upon the USACE management approval of the final scope, schedule, and budget, GLWA’s in-kind contribution will be set at 50 percent of the total project budget. GLWA staff anticipates preparing an amendment for Board approval when the full USACE approval process for scope, schedule, and budget has been completed and GLWA’s in-kind contributions have been fully defined.
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: The proposed procurement of flood and storm damage reduction study is within the current financial plan. Should the USACE receive funding for the comprehensive study as outlined above, the financial plan for future years will be adjusted. As the timing of USACE’s funding approval is currently unknown a budget amendment may be required in that financial plan year of approval, first drawing from other expense types, then other cost centers, and finally from the unallocated reserve.
Funding Source: Operations & Maintenance (5910)
Cost Center(s): System Resiliency (881301)
Expense Type(s): Contractual Professional Services
Contractual Operating Services - All Sewer
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Forecast Variance: See table below.
Fiscal Year Amount
FY 2025 Budget (Prorated) $100,000.00
FY 2026 Budget 720,000.00
FY 2027 Plan 724,400.00
FY 2028 Plan 728,900.00
FY 2029 Plan 733,500.00
FY 2030 Plan (Prorated) 615,083.33
Total Financial Plan $3,621,883.33
Maximum Contract $2,612,133.39
Variance (positive/(negative)) $1,009,749.94
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on April 10, 2025. The Operations and Resources Committee unanimously recommended that the GLWA Board adopt the resolution as presented.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.