The Tollgate Drainage District Sewer Separation Project encompassed a watershed of 234 acres, 554 residential homes, over ten commercial properties, 500 plus apartment units, and four governmental agencies.  This project separated a combined sewer system and created wetland detention basins.  The wetlands also serve as a wildlife refuge, community learning center and a focal point to bring the community together through public outreach.

The City of Lansing agreed to take Lansing Township’s sanitary water.  However, they would no longer handle their storm water.  The Township petitioned the Ingham County Drain Commissioner to find an outlet for the storm water.  The traditional method of storm water conveyance (piping water to a river or stream) would have cost in excess of 20 million dollars.  This was an unacceptable amount for the Township.  An alternate method for outleting, with a substantially lower cost, needed to be found.  Fairview Park and the Groesbeck Municipal Golf Course were used to hold, treat and dispose of the storm water.

Many challenges faced this project during all phases including timing and coordination of schedules for the city sewer separation project, holding public meetings involving reluctant stake holders, inter-governmental agency conflict resolution, and general misinformation.  Other challenges came with the implementation of a public outreach program to educate the residents.  In addition, there were problems with overcoming bioengineering challenges in order to manage, process, and naturally treat urban runoff.  It was essential to establish multi-use design criteria for the following activities: golf, low impact recreation, and wildlife habitat improvement. 

This project is unique in the sense that it manages the water resources from a watershed-based perspective.  This watershed management relies upon certain physical aspects to be developed up front, as described in the project itself.  However, to make sure that the project fits within long term sustainable goals and objectives, a public outreach and education program must be developed in concert with the long-term maintenance of the physical plant.  Stakeholder participation before, during and after the completion of the physical part of the project is critical.  The uniqueness of this project is that it manages a water resource in a closed system, using soft engineering, and it relies upon long term stakeholder involvement to sustain itself.