Addressing Flooding, Erosion, and Property Loss in Our Community
The City of Tallahassee is actively working to address stormwater issues in the Brockswood Park, Old Town, Brookwood Drive, and Inglewood neighborhoods. To help alleviate flooding, reduce erosion, and alleviate property damage, the City is proposing improvements in the Devil's Dip Ravine near Cobb Middle School. Currently in the early planning stages, the project is focused on gathering valuable field survey data and community input, which will help shape the best solutions for the community. Field survey crews are gathering topographic data, and feedback from property owners will be essential in understanding the full scope of the stormwater-related problems in the area.

Proposed Solution: Slow the Flow of Stormwater in the Devil's Dip Ravine
One potential solution under consideration is the construction of a concrete wall in the ravine on the east side of the Cobb Middle School campus. The wall will include an opening to slow the rate of flow of stormwater runoff during heavy rain events. This approach is aimed at reducing downstream flooding and erosion and mitigating property loss. The wall, with an engineered design opening, would also restore hydrologic flow conditions closer to their natural state, improving the environmental aspects of the ravine.

Stormwater will be temporarily detained only during severe rainfall events, with no permanent or long-duration storage of stormwater. This stormwater management approach is known as "dry detention," where stormwater runoff from development is temporarily detained and slowly drained over a period of hours. This concept limits construction to the Cobb MS campus, with no construction proposed on residential properties. Several solution alternatives have been analyzed, and this alternative is the most effective and the only one that addresses the drainage problems identified.

Please note, this concept is still in the planning and public input phase, and final design has not yet commenced, so design details have not been developed.

Community Input Needed
Over 35 properties downstream from the proposed project area have reported problems with stormwater runoff, including flooding, erosion, and property damage. If you live, work, or own property in the area and have experienced stormwater-related issues, we encourage you to share your experiences with us. Your insights - whether through photographs, videos, or specific dates of incidents - will help guide the project's design.

Graphics depicting the problems, property owners' stormwater requests, and project goals are shown here.

Project Timeline and Impacts
The project is currently in the design development (planning) process. Once a solution alternative is selected, the design and permitting phases will begin, with further community outreach. We anticipate that this process will take approximately 18 months. It is important to note that the Devil's Dip Ravine is mostly privately owned, and no construction activities are planned within the ravine outside of the Cobb Middle School campus.

Stay Informed
We are committed to keeping the community informed and involved throughout the design development process. Updates and opportunities for community feedback will be provided as the project progresses. City staff will be available to answer questions before and after the Old Town Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting on November 12. Join us to learn more about the project.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact City Stormwater Management:

Scott Lord, Jr., P.E.
Project Manager
scott.lord@talgov.com
850-891-6860