3.0 PROBLEM DEFINTION AND PROJECT PERFORMANCE CRITERIA3.1 PROBLEM DEFINITION This chapter presents the nature, type, and severity of the problems identified along Big Cicero Creek. This study focused specifically on flooding issues in the town of Tipton and agricultural areas between the City and County Road 500 West. This area is highlighted on the map in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Highlighted Area Shows Reach of Big Cicero Creek to be Studied 3.1 Problem Definition The Big Cicero Creek watershed is mainly agricultural. A significant number of open and closed drains have been constructed and reconstructed over the years to drain the ground for farming. Portions of the upper watershed are in Hamilton, Clinton, and Boone Counties. As stormwater from the upper watershed travels downstream, it combines into several tributaries before joining Big Cicero Creek. The larger tributaries include Buck Creek, Dixon Creek, Cox Ditch, and Prairie Creek. Prairie Creek joins Big Cicero Creek a short ways downstream of CR 500 West. Buck Creek enters Big Cicero Creek on the west side of Tipton. The creek enters Hamilton County again a few miles downstream of Tipton and ultimately flows into Morse Reservoir. Based on the computer modeling, approximately 860 acres of agricultural area are flooded by the 2-year flood and 1300 Acres by the 10-year flood. Assuming the flooding causes a reduction in yield on a typical corn field of 100 bushel per acre and the price per bushel of corn was $2.25, this would mean $193,500 in crop loss every other year, or almost $100,000 per year, on the average. According to the Tipton County Surveyor, the worst flooding problems are along Buck Creek in Tipton (due to backwater from Big Cicero Creek) and along Big Cicero Creek upstream (southwest) of town.
Figure 3: Looking South on Fourth Street Towards Adams Street Tipton residents living west of SR 19 and south of SR 28 voiced concerns about how much water is frequently on their property and the problems caused when it gets up in the crawl spaces of their homes. Water gets into heating ducts. Mold is another common problem. One home near Second Street and Adams Street has been condemned because flood waters moved it off its foundation. Residents also noted that hydrostatic pressure sometimes forces water to back up into their basements. When flood waters finally recede, yards and park property are typically damaged and covered with corn stalks and other debris from upstream. Residents also expressed concern that low areas that currently hold water in the field north of the cemetery would be filled and worsen the flooding on their properties.
Figure 4: Looking North from CR 300 South Across Field Towards Cicero Creek Farmers along the creek voiced concerns about various problems that the flooding causes for them. They explained that if their crops are flooded for one day, they will recover, two days and there is some damage, three days and the crops are destroyed. The length of time water is on their crops is longer than the time the creek is out of its banks. In many areas, once water gets out of the banks it sits on the fields until it drains out through field tiles, which does not happen until the creek recedes. Another problem is that water sometimes flows across the fields fast enough to knock the crops over and destroy them. Farmers and City of Tipton residents suggested that due to cleaning out upstream tributaries, water is now able to leave upstream drainage areas much faster and has solved some of the flooding problems previously experienced in those areas. However, when stormwater gets to Big Cicero Creek, there is not enough capacity to adequately convey the water downstream. The result is frequent flooding of overland areas downstream of the reaches that were cleaned out.
Figure 5: Looking West Towards Cicero Creek Along CR 300 South The County Highway Department has also experienced problems due to the extensive flooding of the roadways. Flooding causes road bases to become saturated resulting in surface failures. There are also safety concerns because people will frequently attempt to drive through flooded roads and risk being washed off the road or driving off the road into the side ditches. They have also had problems with ice on the roadways for extended periods after flooding in the winter. Areas downstream of Tipton reportedly do not have flooding problems, probably due to the large, well-defined channel along the lower reach. Over the years, some efforts have been made to reduce the flooding including removal of beaver dams and clearing of log jams and other debris in the creek. However, most people believe the creek needs a major cleaning and increased capacity to properly convey stormwater flows. 3.2 Project Performance Criteria Based on the nature and extent of flooding problems described above, criteria were developed to aid in the formulation of proposed projects and to screen alternatives. The following is a summary of the technical, environmental, institutional, and economic criteria used to formulate and/or screen proposed alternatives. 3.2.1 Technical Criteria
3.2.2 Environmental Criteria
3.2.3 Institutional Criteria
3.2.4 Economic Criteria
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