Casa, AR: Stormwater
February 2024 - Present
An example of one culvert in Casa which was found to be 50-75% obstructed
Community Description
The Town of Casa, AR, has a population of approximately 134 people and is located in Perry County, approximately 45 miles northwest of Little Rock. Casa is situated on the east end of the Petit Jean River watershed and is in a valley surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains. Casa’s decreasing population and tax base have left the Mayor with limited internal resources for asset management, particularly for stormwater infrastructure.
Project Scope
In 2023, EPIC was connected with Casa by the Anthropocene Alliance. EPIC supported Casa in procuring engineering services, resulting in a Stormwater Infrastructure Analysis and Culvert Replacement Plan. EPIC provided project management supervision and consultation on the opportunity to apply for project funding.
Background and Services Provided
Casa has faced numerous flash flooding events throughout the years, which are exacerbated by an aging and failing stormwater system. During heavy rains, water from higher elevation areas in the Ouachita Mountains flows down into Casa, which locals refer to as “a bowl.” Floodwater overwhelms the clogged, broken, and/or improperly aligned stormwater culverts, resulting in damage to public roadway infrastructure and a number of private residential and commercial buildings. EPIC contracted with engineering firm CEG to produce a Stormwater Infrastructure Analysis and repair plan to mitigate these concerns.
EPIC and CEG visited Casa to complete a field survey and analysis of existing system conditions. Using this data, CEG established criteria used to evaluate the entire stormwater collection system, categorizing each culvert based on their condition. CEG was originally contracted to create multiple design alternatives for potential stormwater solutions. However, after completing the initial system analysis, it was determined that the most effective deliverable for the Town would be a more detailed stormwater culvert repair plan. This Culvert Replacement Plan identified ideal stormwater flow paths and culverts in need of repair, cleaning, or replacement. The Plan also ranked areas based on the urgency of repair needs. This plan was delivered to the Town in July 2025.
Challenges and Opportunities
| Type of Challenge | Project Experience | Outcomes and/or Opportunities |
|---|---|---|
| Financial | Casa lacks any revenue source that could be used to fund the current repair project and ongoing operation and maintenance needs for the stormwater management system | EPIC has recommended that Casa consider adopting a dedicated fund to manage debt service, future capital needs, and operation and maintenance of the system. |
| Labor/Workforce | The Town had no staff dedicated to cleaning and maintaining aging stormwater culverts and drains. The Mayor, on top of her regular duties, often spent additional time cleaning out these culverts and clearing debris. | Completing repairs and replacements in the stormwater system would reduce the time that the Mayor must spend doing these tasks herself or relying on volunteers from the community. |
| Technical | The Town did not have an existing map or inventory of the stormwater collection system. This made ongoing maintenance difficult to plan or track. | The final deliverables presented by CEG included a map of all existing stormwater infrastructure. This is a starting point that can be used to develop a more comprehensive and accessible inventory and asset management plan. |
Project Next Steps
Based on CEG’s analysis and presented deliverables, EPIC recommended pursuing exploratory steps to identify the best available funding options, including the State Revolving Fund. Investment in stormwater infrastructure repair would alleviate future flooding concerns in the Town and would secure funding for an operations and maintenance plan, protecting the investment into the future. At this time, the Town has decided that other high-priority capital improvement projects must take precedence. However, EPIC will continue to support the Town should they elect to pursue this investment in the future.