Resilient Infrastructure Grants – Fulton Creek

The City of Tulsa has long been a leader in identifying and mitigating flood risks.  The Bell-Fulton Watershed master drainage plan updated floodplain mapping and identified potential protective measures. One key action item was to mitigate flash flooding at the intersection of 43rd Street South & Sheridan Road.  Flooding in this area impacts access by fire trucks and other emergency services.  Pictures and videos of commuter vehicles in the flooded intersection can easily be found in local media accounts.

Meshek worked with the City to further evaluate Fulton Creek flooding issues and to develop a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant application to mitigate them.  Together we ultimately developed a conceptual plan for a design that was cost-effective under FEMA’s benefit-cost analysis requirements. 

The conceptual design entails a mix of traditional storm sewer improvements and low impact nature-based solutions.  These will mitigate the flood risk at 43rd & Sheridan and other parts of the watershed.  The area is also liable to heat risks, which the proposed design will reduce through the nature-based elements of increased tree canopy and reduced impervious cover.

Meshek submitted a BRIC application in fiscal year 2021 which was selected for further review in 2022.  In 2024, FEMA announced that the City of Tulsa was awarded the grant.  This will bring nearly $20 million in grant funding for this project, which, combined with local matching funds, will mitigate combined risks in the project area.