District offers update on area flood mitigation

DEFIANCE — The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District is set to receive a "technical update" on flood-control efforts in Findlay-Hancock County, and the meeting will be held in Findlay. The informational meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 4 at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts, 200 W. Main Cross St., and is open to the public. Steve Wilson, project manager for the conservancy district, said the presentation will include proposed site plans, engineering status and tentative schedules for district projects, including river benching in downtown Findlay, widening of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge west of Cory Street, and the Eagle Creek flood basin. Stantec, engineer for the projects, will provide the technical update. Display boards of the sites will also be available. Wilson said there will be no formal question and answer period for the public, but board members, conservancy district staff and engineers will be available before and after the meeting for individual questions. In 2021, the conservancy district neared completion of its first Blanchard River benching project in Findlay. The conservancy district expects to complete the project this year before beginning a second benching project. The additional benching will be on the north side of the river, between the Norfolk Southern and CSX railroad tracks. Final engineering of the additional benching, property acquisition and bidding documents are expected to be completed this year. The conservancy district also received a grant from the Federal Rail Administration to replace the Norfolk Southern bridge near Findlay's downtown. The new bridge will be constructed so that it does not impede floodwater in the river. The final design for the new bridge is expected to be completed this year. The conservancy district has now purchased 682 acres, at a cost of about $18 million, in Hancock County's Eagle Township for the construction of a flood basin. Money to purchase the property was taken from two $15 million grants from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Construction of the basin is expected to begin in 2023. Preliminary engineering of the basin, along with the final design, will be completed this year. An additional 100 acres is needed for the project and is expected to be purchased this year. Grant: 419-427-8412