Plans to alleviate and control the flooding experienced in the Clear Fork area are moving forward. County commissioners approved a resolution Thursday in support of the creation of the Clear Fork Watershed Subdistrict of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District.
The Clear Fork Subdistrict would include the Cedar Fork and Clear Fork, along with Worthington, Jefferson, Perry, Troy, Springfield, and Monroe townships, said Bellville Mayor Darrell Banks.
Banks highlighted some of the major floods Bellville experienced over the years, noting that the flood of 1987 caused $3.3 million of damage to the area. He added, “This past July was the worst flood we’ve had since ’87.”
Bellville again experienced more flooding in December of last year, when water accumulated near businesses on Main Street. “Had not ODOT [Ohio Department of Transportation] cleaned underneath the bridge [on State Route 13], I have no doubt that it would have flooded into those buildings,” Banks said.
Banks mentioned that the subdistrict could help with tasks like cleaning out underneath the bridge on an as-needed basis.
In 1987, a railroad running south throughout Bellville was removed for the formation of the B&O Bike Trail, making southern territories more vulnerable to flooding, Banks said. One of the repercussions of removing the railroad was seen last fall when the elementary school on Hines Avenue was flooded up to the first floor, said Banks.
Lexington Mayor Eugene Parkison referenced the Chippewa Subdistrict, which utilizes a dry dam to control flooding in the area. “That’s the ideal approach,” he said.
The commissioners’ stamp of approval is shared by many other groups, including the villages of Lexington and Butler, Troy and Monroe townships, and the Richland County Township Trustees Association, which have all passed resolutions of support, as well.
Although much progress has been made with rallying up support, there are many other steps needed to be taken before the subdistrict comes to fruition. Applications to form the subdistrict are due by the end of April. The hearing date will be held June 7, and if approved, then a cost analysis will be conducted. “If the cost outweighs the benefits, it’s over with; it ends right there by law,” explained Banks. However, if benefits outweigh cost, then plans will move forward towards the creation of the subdistrict.
The City of Shelby is in the midst of forming its own subdistrict for the area surrounding the Black Fork River. Shelby’s subdistrict was approved in June of 2011. The original timeframe for the planning process was two years, but it has now extended to four years.
Mayor Marilyn John stated, “We’re hoping that the work we have done in the Black Fork Subdistrict will hopefully pave the way for Clear Fork and make things a little bit easier.”
Banks praised John for her advisement to Clear Fork’s attempt to form a subdistrict, saying, “Marilyn has been wonderful in advising and helping us; she has done a tremendous effort to help southern Richland County and we really appreciate it.”
