Petersburg’s Lakemont Neighborhood

Residents of Petersburg’s Lakemont neighborhood have experienced flooding as a result of an inadequate storm sewer system in recent years. This flooding is exacerbated by the increasing frequency of heavy rain events fueled by climate change. The Lakemont Neighborhood Drainage Study (2019) identifies projects intended to reduce flooding in the neighborhood. The City of Petersburg is actively working to reduce flooding by implementing projects in the study with support from the James River Association and Timmons Group. High priority projects identified by residents of the neighborhood include the Culpeper Avenue Storm Sewer Extension, N. Whitehill Drive Drainage Improvements, and Battlefield Flood Remediation and Drainage Improvements.

Culpeper Avenue Storm Sewer Extension – COMPLETE

The Culpeper Avenue Storm Sewer Extension project, which reduces flooding in the vicinity of Brunswick Street and Slagle Avenue, was successfully implemented in 2021. The project adds capacity to the storm sewer system and includes 225’ of new storm sewer pipe and Petersburg’s first hydrodynamic separator, a structure in the ground that improves local water quality by separating pollutants from stormwater. Annual pollution reductions achieved by the project include the reduction of 14.43 pounds of Nitrogen, 1.15 pounds of Phosphorus, and 604 pounds of sediment.

N. Whitehill Drive Drainage Improvements – IN DESIGN

The N. Whitehill Drive Drainage Improvements project seeks to reduce flooding caused by an undersized and dilapidated storm sewer system in the vicinity of N. Whitehill Drive and Nash Street. This project is being designed by Timmons Group and currently includes the installation of new storm sewer pipes and grassy swales to better manage stormwater. New storm sewer pipes are planned for N. Whitehill Drive and Nash Street. Two grassy swales are planned for the eastern side of Nash Street between N. Whitehill Drive and S. Whitehill Drive.

Battlefield Flood Remediation and Drainage Improvements – PLANNED

The James River Association submitted a planning and technical assistance grant application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant program to support the Battlefield Flood Remediation and Drainage Improvements project. This planning and design project will identify engineered solutions to flooding experienced by residents in the vicinity of S. Whitehill Drive, Henrico Street, and Appleton Street.

Questions?

If you have any questions about these projects or would like to report flooding in the neighborhood, please contact Justin Doyle, the James River Association’s Director of Community Conservation, by calling (804) 572-4667 or emailing jdoyle@thejamesriver.org.

    Many Thanks to our Partners

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement CB 96387301. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document.