The city of Ann Arbor is calling on the Washtenaw County water resources commissioner to make nearly $9.3 million in improvements in drainage districts throughout the city.

In a series of unanimous votes Monday night, the Ann Arbor City Council approved five resolutions authorizing the city's share of funding for the projects: $7.2 million.

Because the focus of each project is improved water quality, they're all eligible for low-interest state revolving fund loans. The projects also have been classified as "green projects," which may result in up to 50 percent forgiveness on those loans, city officials said.

The money for the projects is coming from the city's stormwater fund. Each project is expected to be paid off in annual installments over a period of 20 years.

Malletts Ellsworth Basin

The city is proposing improvements to the existing detention basin on Malletts Creek, north of Ellsworth Road and between Varsity Drive and Stone School Road.

Cresson Slotten, the city's acting systems planning unit manger, said in a report that the improvements will remove sediment and phosphorus from the stream flow, improving downstream water quality.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.4 million. The city's share of the cost is not expected to exceed $1.8 million.

Burns Park Alley

The city is proposing construction of a porous pavement alley in the Burns Park area, located off of Wells Street between Lincoln Avenue and Martin Place.

The improvements would reduce ponding in the alley and decrease loading of suspended solids, E. coli and phosphorus into the creekshed, Slotten said. The total cost of the project is estimated at $200,000. The city's share of the cost is not expected to exceed $149,280. Mallets Creek Stream Bank

The city is proposing a multi-phase project to make stream bank stabilization improvements at six locations along Malletts Creek:

• West Eisenhower Parkway and West Oakbrook Drive (future)
• Research Park Drive (future)
• Chalmers Drive between Washtenaw and Huron Parkway (2011)
• South Huron Parkway between Boulder Drive and Stonehaven Street (2011)
• Packard Road near Chesterfield Street (future)
• Boardwalk Street and State Street (future)

The project will improve water quality in the basin by halting the erosion of the banks and reducing suspended solids, E. coli and phosphorus loading into the creek, Slotten said.

The total cost of this project is estimated at $5.1 million, with the total cost of the work for 2011 estimated to be $2 million. The city's share of the 2011 work is not to exceed $1.5 million. The city share of the $3.1 million to complete the remaining locations is $2.3 million.

Traver Creek Stream Bank

The city is proposing stream bank stabilization improvements along Traver Creek between Barton Drive and Plymouth Road. The project will improve water quality in the basin by halting the erosion of the banks and the resulting sediment loading into the creek, Slotten said.

The total cost of the project is estimated at $650,000. The city's share of the cost is not expected to exceed $559,715.

Cisterns/Downspout Disconnects/Tree Plantings

The city is proposing installation of up to five cisterns and disconnection of downspouts from storm sewers and impervious surfaces, along with tree plantings in public right-of-ways, throughout four drainage districts: Swift Run, Traver Creek, Malletts Creek and Allen Creek.

The improvements will reduce the amount of stormwater entering the city's stormwater piping network and reduce contaminants loading to the downstream creeks and the Huron River, Slotten said, adding the project will improve water quality and reduce local flooding.

The total cost of this project is estimated at $915,000. The city's share of the cost is not expected to exceed $879,315.

Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.