BIG CICERO CREEK FLOOD CONTROL STUDY
FINAL REPORT

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1.0 PROJECT OVERVIEW

1.1 INTRODUCTION
1.2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
1.3 ORGANIZATION OF THIS DOCUMENT

1.1 Introduction

Analysis of the watershed included discussions with Drainage Board members, County staff, and interested citizens to determine the extent and nature of the flooding problems.  CBBEL staff also developed a hydrologic model of the watershed and updated and extended the regulatory hydraulic model.

Some upstream portions of the Big Cicero Creek watershed are in Clinton, Boone, and Hamilton Counties.  Water flows from these counties into the southwest part of Tipton County, through the town of Tipton, back into Hamilton County and empties into Morse Reservoir.  The Big Cicero Creek watershed area is approximately 80 square miles at the confluence with Buck Creek in the City of Tipton and 135 square miles at the upstream limit of Morse Reservoir.  Most of the watershed is in Tipton County.  Figure 1 shows the approximate watershed boundary for Big Cicero Creek.  Big Cicero Creek is a County regulated drain, as are many of its tributaries. 

FIGURE 1. Big Cicero Creek Watershed Boundary

1.2 Purpose and Scope

The main purpose of this study is to present alternatives to mitigate known flooding problems along Big Cicero Creek from County Road 500 West downstream through the City of Tipton.  This area often experiences flooding that lasts up to several days at a time. The study focused on analyzing the amount of flow in Big Cicero Creek for various frequency floods, calculating the capacity of the existing creek from CR 500 West through the City of Tipton, identifying the existing flooding problems, and using the analysis to recommend solutions to the identified flooding problems.

The scope of services included the following tasks:

  • Review of available studies done previously by others for projects in this watershed, and meeting with Tipton County and City officials to collect available information and to identify known flooding problems.

  • Collecting additional field survey/structure data, as may be needed. 

  • Conducting field visits to verify the existing site conditions and features in the watershed and along the study reach.

  • Developing hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of the watershed and Big Cicero Creek to analyze existing and proposed conditions.  The hydrologic model was developed for the entire Big Cicero Creek watershed.  The hydraulic model includes the reach of the Creek from County Road 500 West through the City of Tipton.

  • Hydrologic and hydraulic modeling to simulate the stormwater flow along the existing creek and prepare a map showing the flooded areas resulting from the 2-, 10-, and 100-year storms.  The documentation and hydraulic model was developed as required for the results to be incorporated as a leveraged study in the future countywide flood insurance study that is currently scheduled for completion by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) in 2008.

  • Conducting one public information meeting in the City of Tipton.  The meeting provided an opportunity for the public to present their perspective on the flooding problems, location of problems, potential information sources, historic flood information, and other issues.  This meeting was held after completion of the initial floodplain modeling of the Creek.    

  • Establishing flood control/flood protection goals and develop evaluation criteria (technical, environmental, institutional, and economic) for screening and evaluating various flood protection alternatives.

  • Completing detailed evaluations of the performance of various alternative solutions for identified problem areas.  These detailed evaluations included additional hydrologic and hydraulic modeling of the proposed project conditions.  Each proposed alternative was documented and explained. 

  • Completing an overall assessment and final screening of alternatives using the evaluation criteria.  This resulted in recommending the most appropriate alternatives as proposed plan components.

  • Preparing a conceptual plan and preliminary opinion of estimated cost for each proposed plan component.

  • Preparing an implementation plan that includes a recommended sequential list of activities and projects.

  • Developing a comprehensive report documenting the study and its results.  This report includes exhibits, technical results, and appropriate appendices.

1.3 Organization of this Document

This report is contained in two volumes.  Volume 1 is divided into several chapters, sections, and appendices that generally describe the analysis of various alternatives for reducing the present flood problems.  Volume 2 contains the detailed descriptions of the hydrologic and hydraulic modeling used to evaluate the various alternatives to reduce flooding and is intended for separate submittal to IDNR for incorporating the updated data into future flood maps.  A brief summary of the contents of each chapter in Volume 1 is presented below:

  • Chapter 1, Introduction, presents the purpose and scope of the project and a description of the project location.

  • Chapter 2, Data Collection, summarizes information gathered from regulatory agencies, previous studies, and other sources.

  • Chapter 3, Problem Definition and Project Performance Criteria, provides a clear definition of flooding problems and summarizes the criteria used to evaluate the suggested alternative solutions.

  • Chapter 4, Computer Modeling, presents the methodology, assumptions, and data used to calculate peak flow rates and flood elevations along Big Cicero Creek for existing conditions and proposed alternatives.

  • Chapter 5, Initial Screening of Possible Alternative Solutions, provides a listing of potential alternatives considered, explains whether the identified alternative should be carried to the short list of alternatives, and presents a short list of alternatives to be evaluated in detail.

  • Chapter 6, Detailed Evaluation of Alternatives, provides a brief description of each short-listed alternative, summarizes the results of the detailed evaluation of each, and recommends whether the alternative should be included as a component of the recommended plan.

  • Chapter 7, Formulation of a Recommended Plan, provides a summary of the recommended plan components.

  • Chapter 8, Implementation Plan, provides a prioritized list of actions to be followed and a suggested timeline.

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