Muskego Neighborhood Could See Nearly $1 Million In Flooding Fixes

City Engineer Dave Simpson and Aaron Volkening from AECom, an engineering consultant firm, laid out possibilities to alleviate flooding in the Richdorf Drive and Circle Drive neighborhoods, which are along Little Muskego Lake. The presentation was made during the Public Works meeting on Monday, Feb. 20.

The area features some of the largest culverts, but is also part of a 270-acre drainage basin, susceptible to overflow from heavy rains.

The most expensive part of the solution was 4x12-foot box culverts, to replace the one connecting Little Muskego Lake to the surface channel on Richdorf Drive. Installation of those would cost about $700,000. However, Simpson said this was an item that they could plan for in the next 10 years as the existing metal pipe was in decent condition.

More immediate of a fix would be a drainage swale that would be placed between two homes on Circle Drive to connect to the lake. Simpson said he had not formally discussed the option with the homeowners, and would seek funding from MMSD to offset the cost, which is estimated at $100,000. In addition, he felt much of that work could be done by the city, further reducing costs.

In addition, duplexes that face Racine Avenue have lower level entrances and garages at the rear of their properties, which create a 'bowl' effect, collecting excess water. Simpson said the garages may have to go, and instead use the lower levels as a partially-exposed basement area. Parking would still be available after regrading to the property was done. This project would also qualify for MMSD grant funding, Simpson said.