Title
The Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department approves the submission of a Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy Water Resources Division State High Water Infrastructure Grant Application for Jefferson Chalmers Bioretention Implementation and authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
Body
Agenda of April 15, 2026
Item No. 2026-86
TO: The Honorable
Board of Water Commissioners
City of Detroit, Michigan
FROM: Samuel Smalley, Deputy Director
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department
RE: Grant Application for Jefferson Chalmers Bioretention Implementation
MOTION
Upon the request of Samuel Smalley, Deputy Director, the Board of Water Commissioners for the City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department approves the submission of a grant application to the Water Resources Division of the Michigan Department of Environmental Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE), in the amount of $400,000 for the Jefferson Chalmers Bioretention Implementation to construct a bioretention cell in the Jeferson Chalmers neighborhood and commits that the local match shall be provided if the project is funded; and authorizes the Director to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
The Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood is located on the east side of Detroit and occupies historic marshland where portions of the land area are at or below the water surface elevation of the Detroit River during periods of high water. Although this area is served by a combined sewer system, the elevation of the land and position within the regional sewer system has led to continued issues with basement backups and street flooding due to the topographic constraints placed on the combined sewer system. The significant coastal and storm event-based flooding is taking a physical, financial, and mental toll on affected residents. This project addresses system vulnerabilities by implementing one bioretention cell in the neighborhood as a pilot to determine the effectiveness of addressing flooding and reducing combined sewer inflows.
BUDGET IMPACT
Funding is available from the Water Resources Division of EGLE under the State High Water Infrastructure Grant program. The total project cost is estimated to be $480,000, 80 percent of which would be funded through the Water Resources Division and 20 percent would be a local match. Match dollars are already budgeted under the existing DWSD Capital Improvement Program for the Permitting & Stormwater Manage Group.
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This proposed resolution was presented to the Board of Water Commissioners CIPO committee on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.