This channel goes up to 100 (-year storm events)

Buckman Coulee Diversion and TH 60/63 Reconstruction

When the City of Zumbro Falls was devastated by flooding, they looked for a solution that wouldn’t just minimize future disasters—they wanted something that gave them the strength to quickly recover as well. They wanted a system that was easy to maintain and kept their people safe.

Our design redirected water from flood-prone areas to an innovative two-stage diversion channel that gradually conveys flows to the Zumbro River. The channel design can handle large and small storm events, minimizing the potential for channel erosion, sediment deposition, and costly maintenance repairs.

This system required the reconstruction of a highway intersection, removing four bridges, and constructing a new twin box culvert. The happy byproduct? New intersection geometrics and improved pedestrian facilities that led to enhanced safety.

This solution succeeded in mitigating future flooding potential, enabled additional drainage and roadway improvements, and transformed the Buckman Coulee from an unsightly safety hazard into an aesthetic green space and prairie habitat.