Downtown Mansfield has experienced significant and repeated flooding over the last decade. Once believed to be a “hundred year” flood phenomenon, the flooding has increased in severity and frequency since 2003.
In fact, downtown flooded twice in a span of less than two weeks in 2013. The first flood hit on June 29, 2013. Residents and businesses were still responding to the first flood when the second hit just a few days later on July 9, 2013.
In response to the chronic flooding, Mayor Tim Theaker formed a task force to research the problem and possible solutions. The task force was comprised of City Engineer Bob Bianchi, Mayor Theaker, Codes and Permits Manager J.R. Rice, Economic Development Director Tim Bowersock, Community Development Manager Donnie Mitchell, and Interim Public Works Director Angelo Klousiadis.
The city contracted EMH&T of New Albany to investigate and consult on the problem. Two possible solutions could mitigate the flooding. The first solution would be to obtain the affected properties and demolish them at a minimum cost of $43 million. The second option is to create a watershed comprised of four detention basins, which would cost roughly $23 million.
The first option proves undesirable for a variety of reasons, including the difficulty of accurately predicting costs. It is highly likely that such a project could cost significantly more than estimated and those costs would arise mid-project with little ability for the city to plan ahead accordingly.
The second option requires the creation of detention basins. Given the structure of Touby Run, the stream is incapable of handling large volumes of water, thus in a significant weather event it floods. Creating detention basins directs the water to the basins, preventing the likelihood of flooding in the affected neighborhoods and business district.
The four basins would be Triangle Basin, Bowman Street Basin, North Lake Park Basin and South Park Basin. Detention basins work a little differently than retention ponds, which have been required with new construction since 1986. Although the basins are designed to accommodate large volumes of water in the event of a flood, at other times these spaces can have alternate uses.
In Richland County, an example of this is Patriot Park in Lexington. Although in a flood plain, the area functions as a park with playground and soccer fields most of the time. In the event of flooding the park serves as a retention basin for the area.
Bianchi did acknowledge that increasing development to the west could be a contributing factor, but he reminded council that cities to our east could point to us as well. In some cases, communities have charged impact fees in instances like this, but at the moment these issues have not been formally addressed.
Given the mixed-use nature of detention basins this opens up a community development opportunity for the city. The task force presented one possible scenario, a 6th Street Corridor.
The first basin, the Bowman Street Basin at Bowman and 6th streets, could serve as soccer fields. Then North Lake Park itself would serve as the second basin. From North Lake Park the city could extend the B&O Bike Trail connecting it directly to downtown via 6th Street.
Triangle Basin would be situated within three barriers: Mid-Ohio Conference Center, B&O Bike Trail and Touby Run. This space would make an ideal wetlands habitat and could serve as an outdoor ecological science and education center. South Park Basin would utilize the park itself as the basin.
A funding source for this possible project remains in question. It isn’t likely that FEMA funds or other federal funding will be available for the project. There may be some money at the state level, but it is highly probable that the city will have to fund the $23 million project if executed.
Bianchi hopes that the initiative could stimulate growth in the business sector since many businesses have left the floodplain area. In fact, once the project is complete it may be possible to get FEMA to remove the floodplain designation.
Residents are also affected by both the flooding and the possible changes. Bianchi plans to hold a public meeting with North End residents to discuss the findings of the study as well as the possible solutions.
At this time, no legislation has been drafted or proposed with regard to flood mitigation and the findings of the study.
