Two devastating floods in Staunton within weeks of each other in August 2020 are the cause for more flood mitigation efforts in the city.
The closure of parking at the Wharf Lot and the entrance from Johnson Street, then later opening an entrance from Lewis Street and Wharf parking is to allow Wiley Wilson contractors of Lynchburg to begin work to improve the structure of tunnels under the Wharf.
City council directed staff after a September 2020 meeting to engage a consultant to perform a hydrologic and hydraulic study of the city and present possible mitigation projects which could alleviate flooding. Wiley Wilson made a presentation to council in May 2021. The plans included tunnel maintenance and improvements under the Wharf Lot.
“As far as flood mitigation, it’s actually almost impossible to separate city council’s flood mitigation initiative and what’s happening in the Wharf. It was the flood mitigation efforts, that started after the August 2020 floods, that led to the tunnel survey and structural evaluation,” said Staunton Engagement & Communications Manager Josh Knight.
The first flood in Gypsy Hill Park in August 2020 extended into downtown and the Wharf, and the second flood also affected the Wharf. The first flood created more than $3.1 million in damages.
American Rescue Plan Act funding was allocated by council toward the flood mitigation efforts in the amount of $650,000. Wiley Wilson are performing a tunnel survey and structural evaluation by exploring the conditions where Gum Spring Branch (also known as Peyton Creek) and Lewis Creek run under the city. After some exploration, engineers encouraged the city to close the Wharf Lot on March 7 out of concern for structural integrity of the underground tunnels.
Staunton Public Works created a new entrance on March 31 into the eastern side of the Wharf Lot for approximately 25 parking spaces, however some portions of that area remain blocked off because of the structural integrity of the tunnels below.
The Staunton Farmers Market is still scheduled to begin Saturday, April 5 in its usual area at the Wharf with parking in the eastern side of the Lot and in the Johnson Street Garage. The city does not expect parking to be an issue for the market.
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Rebecca Barnabi
