This issue was recategorized from Lawn Damage to Roadway & Drainage Concern.

DPW HWYS Shelley F assigned this issue to DPW HWYS Dayton (central)

The new development on Browns Bridge has installed a pipe under Browns Bridge that is now dumping even more runoff into the Greenwood Development without any improvement to storm water management in Greenwood.

images from the 3/21 rain

another image

another image

I find it dubious that the new development on Browns Bridge put in a large pipe under the road to dump their water in our neighborhood.

Would be great if we could get a response from the county on this. I would be happy to meet you any day to review the situation.

Water is impacting the road as well as yards and driveways in the Greenwood development.

The storm drain cannot keep up with the load, especially now that it is also dealing with the output from the new neighborhood.

This water issue was a problem before but is in an unmanageable state since the Browns Bridge Orchard development. I have seen a large pipe running from Browns Bridge Orchard under the road into my neighbors yard and dumping an enormous amount of water and mud runoff into our neighborhood. Something has to be done. We also need drainage on the road front because the water runoff is affecting our properties as well as flooding my neighbors behind us.

I live on Browns Bridge across from the new development. I too am seeing more runoff and flooding in my yard. I've know about the flooding along Greenwood Drive from my neighbors and I have never seen it this bad even during periods of worse rain before the new development and the drain under Browns Bridge which can't be legal.

Here is our neighbors yard at 1800 3/21/19.

Another pic of neighbors yard

Last pic of neighbor's yard

Our flooded front yard

another of our flooded front yard

Another neighbor's yard. Mailbox flooded! Almost can't drive into driveway.

The drainage pipe from the orchards discharges into my yard. The water has been flowing through my yard constantly and now with the rain it has turned into a river. The county should install appropriate drainage so that our yards do not continue to erode and wash into the creek.

running across my driveway

The end of the pipe from the Orchards

The source of the pipe from the Orchards

Another from the source. it is difficult to tell from the photos, but the water is flowing with velocity and carrying a lot of soil and debris with it, all going into the creek and down to the reservoir.

Can someone/anyone from the county respond?? At a minimum, we would like the storm drain to be cleared.

Been 60 days. Anyone home at Highway Department??

I guess our tax base can’t complete with the new development that’s contributing to the flood. Maybe some external support is required.

Now 99 days with no comment from the county.

CAN I PLEASE GET A RESPONSE FROM THE COUNTY???

Called Highways today. Was told by the person that answered the phone that they would send an email to see if someone can respond. 120 days. We'll see what happens.

150 days and exactly ZERO response from our fine government.

180 days and counting. Howard County is showing how much it cares about its tax base.

Tick tock. 210 days and counting.....

Another month of silence from the county....

approaching a year. Way to go Howard County!

Congratulations, Howard County! You've ignored this issue for a full year.

Storm drain capacity cannot keep up with storm water. New development on Browns Bridge road is causing significant increase in water runoff in this neighborhood.

The storm drain here backs up and causing local flooding. New asphalt on road is stopping natural draining that previously wasn't an issue.

Dear user D, I apologize for the late response. We do not have a person who watches the SeeClickFix tickets for immediate response. This issue would not be something that Highways would have jurisdiction on. I will ask our Engineers to look into your concerns. Regards
Jim B. 4/3/2020.

DPW HWYS Jim Barker assigned this issue to DPW HWYS Jim Barker

Thank you for submitting your request to the Howard County Department of Public Works. Our staff will investigate this issue and respond.

Woohoo!

Any update Mr. Barker?

User D, I just sent a second request to our Engineering department this morning. I have not heard back from them as of this correspondence. 5/26/2020. I still have this in my que and will make sure we evaluate the problem.

Thanks. As a FYI, an Engineering guy was out here some time ago and said it wasn't their issue; it was Highways.

I believe that this storm drain is blocked, either by a collapse under the road or by tree roots.

The other issues are secondary to the drain not working The newly paved road was pitched the wrong direction, added to the volume of water. But, it wouldn't be as issue of the storm drain worked.

D Thanks for the additional information. A County engineer should be out this week. I’ll check on the blocked or clogged storm drain. Jim B. 5/27/2020. Where is the clogged drain located?

Dear user D; below are the comments from the County Engineer. Can you supply any additional information, relevant to his question(s)?

Jim,

I took a look at this issue and was wondering, is this a continuous problem or just after those heavy storms in early 2019? Even though county’s inlet only designed to a 2-year storm, the drainage area to this property should not generate the type of flooding shown on those pictures under a typical storm. The new development at Browns Bridge drains to the opposite direction, so it shouldn’t be part of the problem. Please let me know. Thanks.
5/28/2020

I’ve attached the GIS info for your use. 5/29/2020

Jim,

Last year, I walked around the neighborhood with a guy from Engineering. I understand that the back half of Orchard drains away from Browns Bridge.
However, lot 12401, the first lot on the left of Orchards, drains under Browns Bridge and into Greenwood.

Greenwood Drive has swails on one side of the road, opposite of my property and the storm drain my yard is supposed to drain into. When the repaved Greenwood, they put a center pitch and now water from the road now comes into my yard. This also makes the water from Greenwood lots 7502, the empty lot and my lot of 7519 come across my yard to the storm drain. The under-driveway pipe on 7518 and 7514 do not work and that water backs up, crossess the road and comes into my yard.

If you look at the north side of my driveway, the "right-of-way" section has eroded so much that the water cannot make it to the storm drain. I've had standing water there for the last three months. There is so much standing water in the section of my yard that I cannot cut my grass.

During a typical rain, the first 10 feet of my yard will have water. The south side of my yard is also drenched because the storm drain backs up so easily. Also, if you look at the stom drain, the land around it has eroded so much that the entrance storm drain is now several inches higher than the land. So, the water needs to build up just to get into the top of the drain.

It will likely storm again this afternoon. I guarantee that this will add to the pond that now exists on the county property on the north side of my driveway and further erode the rest of my yard.

This is most definitely not just the storm of 2019. This is a consistent problem.

If someone from the county would like to come and see this, I would be happy to meet.

North side of my driveway today.

North side of my driveway today.

Storm drain today

Video of the storm drain during 2019 rain

video of north side of my driveway today, 5/29/2020

video of storm drain during 2019 rain

video of north side my driveway today, 5/29/2020

Any update?

User D, the video didn't post to SeeClickFix. You can send the video to my email address at JBarker@howardcountymd.gov and I think it would be good to meet with you to discuss and see the issues first hand. I have some time open the week of June 22nd. June 23rd is out as I am scheduled with appointments. I am available 8am thru 2pm. Let me know what works best for you. Jim B. 6/10/2020

Email sent with contact information and link to videos.

Nice to meet you today. Thanks for coming out.

Thanks D, it was a pleasure to meet with you. I will check ownership of the storm drain outfall. Email request sent to Real Estate Service 6/10/2020, looking for an easement across the property 7522 Greenwood. Will check the roadway during a normal rainfall to see where water crosses the road.

Per Real Estate Services, there is No drainage easement for the outfall. 7/1/2020. Jim B.

Dear user D, I just want to confirm our last conversation. You are going to reshape the ditch for positive drainage to the inlet. You were going to speak with the neighbor across the street, about allowing us access to look at the condition of the outfall. Has this happened yet?
Thanks Jim B.

Mr. Barker,

The person with the survey equipment is coming tomorrow to assist with measurements. I will write up the design plans to submit by end of week. Do you need written permission for to view the drainage pipe? Also, part of my submission will be a request to improve access to the storm drain, not make a larger one, as discussed, and a request the ensure the pipe is clear under the road to the downflow drain pipe.

Thanks.

Verbal permission from the property owner would be okay or they could drop me an email, conveying permission. JBarker@howardcountymd.gov

Verbal permission granted.

Survey complete. Looks like there is a 2' drop from one end of my property to the other. I will get the proposal together to include 12" pipe under the driveway, per county specs and an open swale to the storm drain.

Will be asking feasibility of ensuring the pipe under the road is not obstructed and that the entryway to the storm drain be lowered two feet.

driveway permit ticket 8470903 has been opened.

D, The survey was completed and the inlet in question is in the Right Of Way. We can look at adjusting the inlet. Regards
Jim B.

Great. Thanks. How about the driveway permit?

Checking in to see if there is any movement on improving the storm drain.

Still no movement or improvement on the storm drain.