Initial Commitment
Invest in stormwater infrastructure. (Policy Platform, page 6)
Status
Commitment Met
Most Recent Update (Summer 2022)
Metro Water Services has completed 611 projects addressing stormwater concerns since October of 2019, equating to an investment of about $31,020,000.
Previous Update (Fall 2021)
"Trees provide Water Services Stormwater Division with a 12:1 return-on-investment. Metro is ramping up tree-planting and is responsible for about 30% of trees planted through the Root Nashville campaign. Mayor Cooper signed a bill sponsored by CM Henderson requiring commercial and multi-family development to plant trees in tandem with new sidewalk projects built within what the NashvilleNext plan designates as a “Center.” Mayor Cooper also signed Executive Order 5, establishing guidelines governing Metro’s tree planting/maintenance, and designating the Urban Forestry staff within Water Services’ stormwater division as lead coordinator on all tree-related activities. The Order also increases tree-planting requirements for Metro’s capital projects, provides for the protection and replacement of trees on Metro properties, strengthens tree-related protocols around development services, and invests in the tracking and monitoring of tree care. As a result of this effort, Root Nashville estimates more than 14,139 trees have been planted since Mayor Cooper took office. The plantings have diverted more than 1,272,000 gallons of storm water runoff, a number that will continue to expand as the trees mature.
The Cooper administration has actively continued Metro Water Services FEMA buyout program. Twenty-eight homes have been purchased and returned to greenspace since the Mayor took office. In addition, there are more than 74 in some phase of the home buyout process. More than 75% of these purchases are funded by FEMA and TEMA or Army Corps of Engineers. Home Buyout is considered a state of the art practice to reduce flooding and repetitive loss. Metro Water has been extensively involved in the updating of our Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM). In 2020, 60 more maps were updated, giving Davidson County one of the most extensive Flood Map series in the nation and exceptional data in regard to floodplain management.
Metro updated the Stormwater Management Manual, becoming effective 11/18/2021. This is an important precursor to a Metrowide Stormwater Master Planning effort starting this year. In the summer of 2021, Metro went through ISO’s community rating risk cycle. As a result of our rating, Metro sustained a 10% reduction in flood insurance premiums for all flood insurance policy holders in Davidson County.
In October 2019, Mayor Cooper redirected $17.5 million from the stalled SoBro-Gulch pedestrian bridge project. Funds were diverted immediately to neighborhood infrastructure projects, including $13.63 million for 52 separate culvert and bridge projects in 24 council districts around the county.
The FY21 Capital Spend plan included $19.8 million for stormwater projects and over $1.7 million in additional trees investments (Emerald Ash Borer: $750,000 ; $750,000 Parks 4% ; ROW trees $220,000)"