At Work | 2008
Summary of maintenance and special projects completed in 2008.
Riprap Replacement on Dam II-A
Riprap being placed around the spillway riser to protect the surface of the dam from erosion.
Berm Repair on Dam II-A
Over the years maintenance equipment had created ruts in the berm, causing water to pool against the dam and potentially creating more serious damage to the dam.
Structure 35R Pipe Replacement
A 48-inch diameter corrugated metal pipe was past its life expectancy and had rusted out along the bottom of the pipe causing inefficiency.
Structure 58R
Structure 58R, a 30-inch diameter culvert, had rusted out at the bottom allowing water to flow underneath and around the pipe washing out the embankment.
At Work | 2008
Since the beginning of the Chippewa Flood Control System, and during the past twenty-five years, much of the needed maintenance could not be completed as planned due to lack of funding. This caused many of the channel banks to become overgrown with woody vegetation, which made it near to impossible to maintain the banks or the culverts installed for the purpose of draining the floodwaters. In addition, as trees grew, many would lose branches or fall into the channel causing log jams, bank erosion, and more localized areas of flooding due to the inability of the stream flow to get through the blockage.
Maintaining the 33 miles of channel helps to ensure that flood waters will recede from the land, quickly and efficiently.
An effort by the Chippewa Subdistrict has been made to provide funding through an assessment permitted by the Conservancy District Laws of Ohio.
These assessment dollars, which can only be spent on maintenance of the Chippewa Flood Control Project, have been utilized on several projects designed to return the Project to its original design objectives.
*For activities prior to 2005, contact us.
Maintenance Activities
Maintenance Activities must be done consistently to keep the Flood Control System working properly. Dams and channels must be mowed annually to manage woody growth, and provide access to allow for equipment and inspections. Visit our Structure 58R project to see a recent example of Maintenance.
When the Chippewa channel was constructed, nearly 500 pipe structures were installed. These structures used corrugated metal pipes (CMP), which vary in diameter and length, and are an integral part of the System as they move runoff water safely into the channel. The CMP pipes have exceeded their lifespan and are being systematically replaced with superior quality pipe, such as high density polypropylene (HDPP) or high density polyethylene (HDPE). These new pipes are intended to last for many decades.
Special Projects
Special Projects vary each year and involve items of work that are outside the usual scope of maintenance. They are necessary to keep pace with new standards and regulations, as well as changes in the Watershed.
Our GPS / GIS mapping is a Special Project allowing us to locate and evaluate nearly 700 hydraulic structures originally installed throughout the channels. When completed, Subdistrict staff will be able to prepare a proactive maintenance schedule to ensure that structures are repaired or replaced before failure occurs.