Ottawa diversion channel nearly done

OTTAWA — Construction of a diversion channel for the Blanchard River at Ottawa is practically done, all except the ribbon cutting. Water has already flowed through the diversion channel, and it's working as it should, said Steve Wilson, project manager for the Maumee Watershed Conservancy District, Defiance. Wilson gave an update on the project of the regular meeting of the conservancy district in November. At that time, he said the channel was 99.5% complete. Ottawa Mayor J. Dean Meyer has requested that a post-construction ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The conservancy district is now seeking a grant through H2Ohio for the restoration of wetlands along the channel. The grant request, to pay for the restoration in its entirety, has already received tentative approval. H2Ohio is Gov. Mike DeWine's water quality plan to reduce harmful algal blooms, improve wastewater infrastructure, and prevent lead contamination. The plan is focused on the implementation of agricultural best practices and the creation of wetlands; improving wastewater infrastructure; replacing failing home septic systems; and preventing lead contamination in high-risk daycare centers and schools. Excavation for the $3.3 million, 4,000-foot diversion channel on the northwestern side of Ottawa began last summer. Mark Haynes Construction, Norwalk, is the contractor. Nearly 200,000 cubic yards of dirt were removed during the construction of the channel, which is expected to lower floodwater in downtown Ottawa by 6 inches during a 100-year flood. The channel, together with improvements to Putnam County Road I-9 made in 2016, is expected to lower floodwater by about 1 foot. An approach to a bridge on I-9 was lowered as part of the village's flood-control efforts. The walls, along with the higher approach of the bridge — which straddles the Blanchard River at Ottawa — were acting as a dam and backing floodwater into the village. The Village of Ottawa received an $8 million grant from the State of Ohio to pay for the flood mitigation work, including the diversion channel, road modifications, and purchasing and clearing properties in the floodplain. The project is much smaller than a 9.4-mile Eagle Creek diversion channel that was proposed in Hancock County by the Army Corps of Engineers in 2014. The corps later abandoned the plan because it didn't meet its own criteria for having a cost-benefit ratio greater than 1:1. The flood mitigation work on the Blanchard River at Ottawa will change the village's floodplain boundary. Wilson said Stantec engineering is preparing the new maps. The maps will be submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) early this year. It could take 12 to 18 months to gain the approval of the new maps from FEMA. A land-right claim with two Putnam County property owners for the construction of the diversion channel at Ottawa was settled in 2019. The project had been tied up in litigation since fall 2016. The conservancy district acquired the two properties in Putnam County through eminent domain action. Under Ohio law, the conservancy district has the authority of eminent domain, which means it can take property from landowners for public use. Landowners must be paid a fair price for the property taken. The district can also levy property tax assessments to pay for flood-control work.