Public Works

Stay tuned for Pavilion calendar.

This climate risk assessment was a free  service provided by the Woodwell Climate Research Center for the Cities of Homer and Seldovia.  The report analyzes climate change related hazards that the southern Kenai Peninsula is likely to experience in the coming years. 

The report is intended to help our communities develop resiliency by providing data based forecasts of future climate change challenges.

The City of Homer is continuing to make the city more pedestrian-friendly.  Incentivizing pedestrian travel for residents and visitors alike reduces vehicle emissions and promotes an active and healthy lifestyle. The city already has a pretty robust system of sidewalks and trails, but now the focus is on improving connections between pedestrian areas by closing the non motorized gaps.

Work includes:

The East Kachemak Drive area has shown some of the highest growth within the City of Homer, and yet it is also experiencing some of the highest coastal stormwater discharge concentrations and erosion rates within the City. Industrial stormwater runoff also poses a water quality concern for Kachemak Bay. The problems have caused a threat to the critical infrastructure of Kachemak Drive in this area, where much of Homer’s industrial area is located.

Stormwater generated in east downtown Homer has used Beluga lake marshlands and the upper Beluga slough marshlands as a de facto treatment area.   Yet, much of this runoff is conveyed in a direct manner to the lake and enters Palmer creek via the Beluga Lake wier.  As such, any treatment benefits provided by marshlands is mostly bypassed and urban runoff with associated pollutants is conveyed directly to Kachemak Bay.

This project focuses on reducing bluff erosion in the Baycrest Subdivision by diverting the current storm drain configuration as well as capturing as much shallow ground water as possible and conveying it further down along the Sterling Hwy to Bidarki Creek.  As an added incentive to pursue this project, it may be possible to integrate micro-hydro works in two locations along the proposed stormwater diversion system.   This project is conceptual at this time and is being designed by Coble Geophysical Services.

The city has hired Coble Geophysical LLC to design stormwater management projects using green infrastructure and natural systems to improve water quality, and prevent flooding and erosion.  These four projects are mostly in the conceptual phase but are being actively pursued.  Click on the buttons below to explore maps of each idea.

While many people are concerned about climate change, most do not know how they can help on an individual level. 

Water 

The City of Homer has policy guide for their employees' outlining reducing waste and energy usage within the public sector. 

This handbook explains policies regarding office equipment usage, HVAC systems, lighting for inside and outside facilities, and vehicle usage. 

Below is a copy of the Employee Sustainability Handbook.