Mud/Dry Creek #22-01 FAQs
Q: Why has this drainage improvement been requested?
A: A landowner has requested this drainage improvement project to help reduce flooding that occurs on and near Dry Creek and Mud Creek in the vicinity of US Route 127. In addition, the petitioner is concerned about the overall channel capacity/conditions of both creeks. For Mud Creek specifically, concern stems from the previous drainage improvement (log jam and leaning tree removal) of the Lost Creek project potentially putting more demand on Mud Creek as well as additional drainage projects currently petitioned at the top end of Lost Creek.
Q: My property is miles away from this drainage improvement project, why would my parcel(s) be assessed to help pay for this project if it moves forward?
A: Your parcel(s) would be assessed because your parcel or a portion of your parcel lies within the project’s drainage area (AKA watershed). All precipitation that falls on the landscape goes somewhere. Even though you may not see improved drainage on your particular parcel, your parcel is generating water that flows through and utilizes all or a portion of the proposed drainage improvement. Per section 940.01 of the Ohio Revised Code, one of the benefits of a drainage improvement project is:
“Providing an outlet for the accelerated runoff from artificial drainage if a stream, watercourse, channel, or ditch that is under improvement is called upon to discharge functions for which it was not designed. Uplands that have been removed from their natural state by deforestation, cultivation, artificial drainage, urban development, or other human methods shall be considered to be benefited by an improvement that is required to dispose of the accelerated flow of water from the uplands.”
As a result of your benefit from the disposal of accelerated flow from your parcel(s), there is an obligation to help pay for the improvement if the project moves forward.
Q: Will this drainage improvement project eliminate all flooding upstream and alongside Mud Creek and Dry Creek?
A: No, absolutely not. Both creeks are surrounded by low-lying floodplains including those classified as FEMA 100-year floodplains. These floodplains are designed by nature as temporary water storage areas following large rain events. These areas have and will continue to experience periodic flooding following large rain events, even if the project moves forward. The project has been requested to remove logjams and leaning trees to eliminate logjam backups during small and moderate rain events and to help increase flow capacity during large rain events.
Q: Why don’t the landowners along each of the creeks remove the log jams on their own?
A: Removing log jams in creeks this size is an extensive undertaking. Landowners may not have the equipment needed to remove the debris from the creek. In addition, some landowners may have log jams on their property that were formed from trees and debris that were generated from upstream landowners.
Q: If the project goes through and the log jams are removed, won’t new log jams form again and take us right back to the existing conditions?
A: Yes, new log jams will inevitably form. As part of the proposed log jam removal project, leaning and undercut trees along the creek will also be removed. Proactively removing the leaning and undercut trees will greatly reduce the number of log jams that form in the years immediately following the drainage improvement project. However, it should be noted these creeks are continuing to naturally widen due to the accelerated runoff we are asking them to handle. As a result of this natural widening, at some point additional trees will fall into the creeks and will form new log jams.
Per the Ohio Revised Code, if the project is completed it will be required to be placed on permanent Ditch Maintenance. Ditch Maintenance would perform annual inspections and would then remove any new log jams. All landowners included in the original assessment for the project would then receive a maintenance assessment at a percentage of the original landowner costs to fund these maintenance activities.
A: A landowner has requested this drainage improvement project to help reduce flooding that occurs on and near Dry Creek and Mud Creek in the vicinity of US Route 127. In addition, the petitioner is concerned about the overall channel capacity/conditions of both creeks. For Mud Creek specifically, concern stems from the previous drainage improvement (log jam and leaning tree removal) of the Lost Creek project potentially putting more demand on Mud Creek as well as additional drainage projects currently petitioned at the top end of Lost Creek.
Q: My property is miles away from this drainage improvement project, why would my parcel(s) be assessed to help pay for this project if it moves forward?
A: Your parcel(s) would be assessed because your parcel or a portion of your parcel lies within the project’s drainage area (AKA watershed). All precipitation that falls on the landscape goes somewhere. Even though you may not see improved drainage on your particular parcel, your parcel is generating water that flows through and utilizes all or a portion of the proposed drainage improvement. Per section 940.01 of the Ohio Revised Code, one of the benefits of a drainage improvement project is:
“Providing an outlet for the accelerated runoff from artificial drainage if a stream, watercourse, channel, or ditch that is under improvement is called upon to discharge functions for which it was not designed. Uplands that have been removed from their natural state by deforestation, cultivation, artificial drainage, urban development, or other human methods shall be considered to be benefited by an improvement that is required to dispose of the accelerated flow of water from the uplands.”
As a result of your benefit from the disposal of accelerated flow from your parcel(s), there is an obligation to help pay for the improvement if the project moves forward.
Q: Will this drainage improvement project eliminate all flooding upstream and alongside Mud Creek and Dry Creek?
A: No, absolutely not. Both creeks are surrounded by low-lying floodplains including those classified as FEMA 100-year floodplains. These floodplains are designed by nature as temporary water storage areas following large rain events. These areas have and will continue to experience periodic flooding following large rain events, even if the project moves forward. The project has been requested to remove logjams and leaning trees to eliminate logjam backups during small and moderate rain events and to help increase flow capacity during large rain events.
Q: Why don’t the landowners along each of the creeks remove the log jams on their own?
A: Removing log jams in creeks this size is an extensive undertaking. Landowners may not have the equipment needed to remove the debris from the creek. In addition, some landowners may have log jams on their property that were formed from trees and debris that were generated from upstream landowners.
Q: If the project goes through and the log jams are removed, won’t new log jams form again and take us right back to the existing conditions?
A: Yes, new log jams will inevitably form. As part of the proposed log jam removal project, leaning and undercut trees along the creek will also be removed. Proactively removing the leaning and undercut trees will greatly reduce the number of log jams that form in the years immediately following the drainage improvement project. However, it should be noted these creeks are continuing to naturally widen due to the accelerated runoff we are asking them to handle. As a result of this natural widening, at some point additional trees will fall into the creeks and will form new log jams.
Per the Ohio Revised Code, if the project is completed it will be required to be placed on permanent Ditch Maintenance. Ditch Maintenance would perform annual inspections and would then remove any new log jams. All landowners included in the original assessment for the project would then receive a maintenance assessment at a percentage of the original landowner costs to fund these maintenance activities.