About the Project

The City of Carrollton has selected Freese and Nichols, Inc., an engineering/architectural and environmental consulting firm to design erosion control improvements along Highlands Creek.

Based on direction from the City Council at the October 12, 1999 City Council meeting and subsequent homeowner's selection meeting, Freese and Nichols developed preliminary engineering for the control of erosion along the channel. The preliminary engineering report considered changes to the alignment of the creek since the 1987 analysis. The report also identified the specific causes of erosion and provides a description of effective solutions for channel erosion along Highlands Creek from Marsh Lane to Kelly Boulevard.

Development of the resulting engineering report included active participation by the neighborhood. The participation was conducted through three public meetings with the homeowners and the city staff at various stages of the project. The purpose of the meetings was to achieve the following:

• 1st Meeting - Gather information regarding homeowner concerns and issues
• 2nd Meeting - Present design options and gain feedback from homeowners
• 3rd Meeting - Formulate two design options to present to the City Council.

The findings of the engineering report was presented to the property owners, the city staff, and the City Council for consideration of any future action. The City Council asked Freese and Nichols to meet with the homeowners again to discuss proposed improvements. This next round of meetings were held via a series of evening meetings along the creek. The easement and wall locations were staked along the creek prior to the meetings so that the homeowners could discuss the project with the City Engineer and Freese and Nichols staff.

After the last series of meetings, the City Council authorized Freese and Nichols to proceed with final design of the project.

The design phase includes:

• Preparation of a new topographic survey
• Geotechnical investigations
• Review of the hydrologic and hydraulic modeling
• Preparation of construction documents.

Freese and Nichols and the City will conduct three public meetings during the design phase of the project. During this phase, Freese and Nichols will also prepare an individual Corps of Engineers 404 permit application for the project.

Currently, the project is being reviewed by the COE pending approval of the individual permit. Construction will proceed upon approval of the permit.