Centenary Stormwater Improvement

Centenary Church is situated on 13 acres of mostly impervious surface draining into the West Hickman Creek watershed. Due to aging/failing stormwater infrastructure, the church has had flooding of the building and some parking areas during rain events. The goals for the project were to improve water quality, slow or reduce water quantity entering the stream, and to provide education about stormwater systems via signage and on-going educational opportunities. This project was awarded grant funding in part by the LexingtonFayette Urban County Government’s Water Quality Management Fee and the Stormwater Quality Projects Incentive Grant Program.

To meet the goals of this project several BMP’s were designed and built. Six non-functioning or unsafe curb inlets were repaired or replaced. A frequently flooded sidewalk had a trench drain installed at the low point, leading to a repaired basin. A French drain was installed with a paver path near the playground area to address water leaking in the basement. In addition, the detention basin was retrofitted with rock channels, allowing the water to infiltrate through a layer of engineered soil before entering an underdrain to the creek. The creek bank itself was also rebuilt and stabilized by means of bank-slope flattening and channel protection with natural stone lining. A sanitary sewer line crosses the stream, and water had eroded underneath. The sewage line was protected from future erosion using additional stacked rock.

Throughout the whole process, removal of invasive species was performed, particularly along the stream. Disturbed areas had seed and straw spread, and over 100 native trees, shrubs, and flowers were planted to beautify the site and attract beneficial wildlife.