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"Are maintenance or flowage easements are on my property?" is a frequently asked question. To help you see where the easements are situated, we have developed the Chippewa Subdistrict Dynamic Map. Click the link to see your property. Similar in operation to a Google map, zoom in for more detail, use the mouse cursor to drag your viewpoint side to side or up and down.
Dynamic Map - Easements.

In 2021, we continued our routine maintenance of removing downed trees from the maintenance berms and channels. The trees were removed from these areas to prevent logjams and to allow access needed to do channel inspections and channel mowing. This past year, we also continued our maintenance program on the 8 flood control dams. The dams were mowed 4 times this year to maintain the sod cover and aid in the ease of inspections.

Three pipe structures were replaced this year on the Chippewa channel. The structures consisted of two culverts and one drop structure. These structures were made of corrugated metal pipe and have deteriorated over the past 50 years and were beginning to fail and impacting the maintenance berm along the Chippewa Channel. These structures were replaced with plastic materials to ensure that they will function for many more years. Two livestock crossings on the River Styx channel were closed this year. The livestock crossings were no longer being used and were allowing the water to exit the channel during high water events. The banks were excavated. Riprap and stone were placed in these areas to build the bank back to its original elevations.
See Channel Maintenance.

During routine inspections of the dams, it was observed that the lake drain on Dam II-A was not operating at the manufacturer’s specifications. Since the valve was not working to the specifications it needed to be replaced. The valve was replaced this year with the same type of valve that was installed 53 years ago. With our routine maintenance and regular inspections all our dams currently meet ODNR Safety requirements.
See Dam Maintenance.

The eight Chippewa Dams range in age from 40 – 50 years old. Going into 2022, we will continue our focus on the maintenance and inspections of the channels and dams. We work to keep them in excellent condition, which requires regular inspection and monitoring. How do you safely inspect concrete spillway pipes and that are buried deep, and hundreds of feet long?
See Hubbard Valley Dam Laser Scanning Project.

Dynamic Map - Easements
"Are maintenance or flowage easements are on my property?" To address this and other questions, we developed the Chippewa Subdistrict Dynamic Map to provide detailed information.

Channel Maintenance
Vegetation management is key to preserving channel capacity for flow, and for providing access for maintenance activities along the 33 miles of channel that we are responsible for.

Dam Maintenance
Vegetation management is key to preserving channel capacity for flow, and for providing access for maintenance activities along the 33 miles of channel that we are responsible for.

Dam 2-A Gate Valve Replacement
In 2021 the gate valve used to drain the pool area behind Dam 2-A needed to be replaced. It was during our routine exercising of the gate valve that we observed that the valve was not opening to its full capacity. This valve was the original valve installed in the dam when it was built in 1969.

Hubbard Valley Dam Laser Scanning Project
We initiated our first laser scan and 3D basemap of a Principal Spillway structure in 2019 and have continued to leverage that data. At Hubbard Valley Dam, (Dam 3-A), the spillway consists of a 25 foot tall concrete riser, 42-inch diameter by 236 foot long outlet pipe and impact basin. GPD Group – Akron was the contractor. The initial report and drawings provided a very detailed basemap of the spillway. Comparisons of the initial basemap and subsequent scans, will indicate any possible compromises of the structure or the pipe. This level of detail will supplement more basic visual inspections.

StormLink^® Instrumentation at Dam 5-D
We installed our third Automated Rainfall and Stage Level Monitoring System with a StormLink^® Satellite Monitoring Station in 2019 and utilized that data in 2020. The StormLink^® is installed on Dam 5-D, off Steiner Road near Creston, Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) staff installed conduit, concrete supports, and the solar-powered station. We are continuing to monitor the site remotely for rainfall and flood pool stage, which is especially important during large storm events.