The City of Powell is proposing a partnership with Northwest College to construct a stormwater retention pond and pipe system on college land that would address a stormwater drainage issue in the area of the city around NWC. 

At a recent NWC board meeting, representatives from the city and Engineering Associates presented the proposal to college trustees during a lengthy discussion. NWC President Lisa Watson said the discussion would be sent back to the facilities committee and staff to talk through the proposal and answer more questions.

Trustee John Housel suggested a site visit for the trustees and an engineer so that they might get a better understanding of the area affected. Watson said something could be arranged toward that effect. 

The plan would require NWC to grant the city an easement to construct a roughly 1 acre retention pond, next to a parking lot behind Trapper Village, connected to a storm drain that would connect to existing drain on Absaroka Street. The pond would have a gradual slope for people able to walk out of, and be dug well above the groundwater level to avoid seepage. 

City mayor John Wetzel said the idea was to help both the city and NWC with stormwater drainage, to the point where NWC would be able to connect to the drain or pond to assist with any other drainage issues. 

The proposed 1 acre pond is next to a large parking lot next to Trapper Village. Engineering Associates Powell Manager Eric Wachob said it would require moving some mature trees that the city would replace. He said except in rainstorms any water draining in wouldn’t lead to the ground at the bottom of the basin having standing water if even much wet soil. 

“We would not expect standing water or even wet soil, except for rainstorms,” he said. “Other uses like frisbee golf or sitting out and watching stars would not be adversely affected.

“And we try to make sure that during very big events, more water is leaving the basin than entering.”

Powell City Manager Zack Thorington said, in response to concerns about it being a danger to people if water were to pool in the pond during a heavy rain event, that there are already many issues like that where water pools around the area of town and this would help solve some of those issues. 

He said the plan is part of an overall city master plan to revamp much of the stormwater system, with the goal for the pond, eventually, to be connected all the way to Coulter Avenue. 

“This project is designed to accommodate that work at a future date,” Thorington said.