Creation of the Subdistrict

Citizens of the area recognized that floods would continue. The Chippewa Subdistrict evolved through the efforts of many partnering organizations, governmental entities, and citizen groups.

Between 1957 and 1960, the Wayne and Medina County Commissioners and Soil Conservation Districts, along with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and 35 farm, industrial, municipal, recreational and service groups worked together to submit an application to the Soil Conservation Service for a feasibility study. The study showed that a flood control project was economically feasible and the Chippewa Creek Watershed Work Plan was completed in 1960.

Twenty-eight Wayne and Medina County citizens demonstrated their commitment to the project by signing individual bank notes for $20,500 to finance the Work Plan.

These citizens paid interest on the notes for 10 years and in 1970, when the notes were finally paid off, the signers received 95% of the money they had advanced.

Between 1963 and 1967, there were no funds available to pay the $86,000 cost for the reappraisal until funds were secured from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Wayne and Medina County Commissioners, and the Packaging Corporation of America.

The reappraisal was made during 1967-1970 and filed and approved in 1970.