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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSWISS AIRE Lots 9-14 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: GREATER ANCHORAGE AREA BOROUGH Department of Environmental MEMORANDUM Senior Environmental Specialist Tim Rumfelt ,,~ Sanitarian Swiss Air Subdivision Proposed Drainage Ditch Quality June 15, 1972 · On June 14, 1972 I inspected the area adjacent to the east boundary lines of lots 9 - 14 of the sub.iect subdivision for the purpose of determining a solution for the existing high H20 problem. The vegetation there consists of deep moss and scrawny spruce, indicative of a poor soil and a high water table. This layer of moss also helps hold the frost in the ground during breakup thus attributes to the flooding of the subject subdivision. According to percolation tests performed by James Turtle in June of 1969, the soil conditions on lots 11-13 range from 150 sq.~ft./bedroom to 175 sq. ft./bedroom. At that time, no ground water was encountered. At the present time, a 1 1/2 foot mound of gravel exists on'the east lot line of lots 11-14. A dozer trail parallels this mound and continues to Campbell Creek. This trail is not in the form of a ditch but lies on the existing ground level. Standing water exists in small pools on this trail. If a drainage ditch was constructed from 88th to Campbell Creek along the boundary line of the subdivision a few problems would occur. l) The drainage ditch would have to be fenced due to the sm611 children in the area. To leave it unfenced would draw a fury of complaints as was experienced in past similar endeavors. 2) The ditch would have to be maintained to insure continuous flow, a necessity in this mosquito infused semi-swamp. John R. Lee ~ Page Two June 15, 1972 3) The ditch must be shallow at the south end, the area of most concern due to the elevations of the creek and surrounding land. 4) The presence of the ditch would probably not stop further winter glaciering of the area. 5) The mere presence of a drainage ditch could attract future pumpino of the nearby sewage systems into said ditch. This very activity has occured in Brookwood Subdivision. In summat~n,'it is my opinion that the proposed drainage ditch could cause more problems than it would eleviate. Since there are only three families being effected, one of which already has installed a holding tank, it might be better to have these families pump their existing sewage systems until such time that the public sewer can be made available to them~ bb © ,0 /4 GREATER ANCHORAG5 AREA BOROUGH Department of 5nvironmental Quality June 6, 1972 TO: FRO~: John Lee, R.S. Senior Enwronmental Specl~lls Please conduct an on-site waste disposal investigation in Swiss Aires Subdivision. lo Locate each system on a map° Show %he number of vacant lots. 3. Determine how each system is functioning. Suspense date mjp Determine liquid level in seepage pit. June_ ~'; 1972 FROM: SUBJHCT~ Juno 6, 1972 Sidney 5. Clark, Director Public ~orks Department C~ Po Judkins, Director lateral Sewer Construction. Swiss Aires Subdivision The Department of l~nvironmental Quality has been experiencing prob- lems with oil-site disposal facilities in the subject stfodivisiOno Apparently, the road which was installed several years ago, when this subdivision was developed, has resulted in a blockage of ground water flow causing a rise in water table which has flooded out several septic ta~k seepage !)it installations. The resultant exposure of the com,%unity to human fecal waste is, of cours% a potential hazard and a threat to the health of the community. It is the request of the Department of Hnvtron,mntal Quality that lateral sewers be scheduled for the ~wiss Aires Subdivision at the earliest reasonable date. This office will attempt to restrict tile installation of on-siLo wast8 disposal facilities until such time as public sewer is available to the subdivision. Please advise us of your construction schedule on this project. mJp GREATER ANCHORAGE AREA BOROUGH Department of Environmental Quality MEMORANDUM Feb. 14, 1972 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: File C.P. dudk~ns, R.S., D~rec . Complaint, Swiss Airs Subdiv?sion 2/11/72 - 12:15 P.M. Received complaint from Mr. Albert Mullins (344-6666),(home 333-5212), concerning flooding of his home by little Campbell Creek. He is located in Swiss Airs Subdivision on Swiss Place which is north off of 88th Street, east of Lake Otis Road. Mr. Mullins indicated that he had called some one at Borough Maintenance, had been referred to Dave McClellan, then to Bob Bell and then to mm. He said he had been informed that the Borough could not help because the area was not in a roads or drainage service area. I told him I would investigate and call him back. Called Alaska Disaster Office (272-0594). They advised that they could take no action other than advisory. They mew of no government agency that had the authority to correct the problem. On our request, they would ask the Corp of Engineers hyrolics person to inspect and advise corrective action. I called Janet Archibald to take pictures and she and I drove to the site. At the site, I discussed the situation with Mr. Albert Mullins whose house was surrounded with ice, Mrs. B. Bundy whose house was threatened by the glaciating stream and another woman whose name I neglected to write down. Her house is also involved as it occupies the lot next to the Albert Mullins residence. Little Campbell Creek had apparently frozen solid at a bend near the Bundy residence leaving no channel for winter flow and substantial glaciation had occurred and was still occurring. A small foot bridge had been placed across the Creek at the bend, according to Mrs. Bundy. The bridge was out of sight under about two feet of ice. There was also a well used snow machine trail crossing the Creek a few feet from the bridge. There was no evidence of glaciation below that point. Speculation leads one to believe that one of these factors may have begun the process that caused the channel to freeze solid. According to those residents present, the ice was six to eight feet deep in places. File, Swiss Airs Subdivision Feb. 14, 1972 · Page Two The ice had encroached upon the Mullins lot from the rear after moving more than 100 yards across a swampy-scrub spruce area, it had gone around the house on both sides and completely inundated the street (Swiss Place) in front of the Mullins residence. Upon returning to the office (about 1:45 P.M.), I called the Disaster Office again and got a recorded message giving an emergency number. I called Mr. Mason'Wade, of the Corps of Engineers, and we agreed to meet at the site at 8:30 A.M. the next morning (Saturday) and advise the home owners of what action they m~ght take to protect their homes. After surveying the conditions Saturday morning, two home owners, Mr. Mullins and another man whose name I did not write down, were advised by Mr. Wade that the method of correction was to employ stream thawing equipment to find and thaw out the places where the winter channel is frozen. It was suggested that explosive charges were a last resort~and that the proximity of the Bundy residence might cause some difficulties. Mr. Wade also advised that the "dams!' could be constructed where ice was glaciating towards a house to change the direction of movement. Such things as craft paper in front of sand bags or most any material would do the job. The persons present were advised could assist them (other than in channel. that we knew of no government agency that an advisory capacity) to clear the frozen I advised that I would discuss it with Whoever I could get a hold of Monday and indicated that the residents might wish to discuss the matter with the Assembly. The situation with Borough roads and drainage service areas and taxes was explained. (They are not in any such service area). The people did not really understand why no government agency could do anything other than talk about the problem. We discussed approval of andI development of subdivisions in known flood plains without proper protection. We advised them that they could get flood insurance protection. The on-$~te waste disposal fac~ties at at least two homes are inundated by i¢~ - o~ner~ are threatened - ~h~s may cause some p~oblems at 6teaCup. COMMENTS: 1. Borough should not approve subdivisions in flood plains without insuring protection of proposal from floods. 2. Borough should not approve on-site sewage disposal within flood plains. For that matter, well location and sewer line man~holes should receive spe- cial attention. 3. There shOuld be some cope with such situations standpoint. component available at some level of government to from a corrective action rather than an advisory rn encs.