The Blanchard River might soon see more construction coming its way to help prevent floods even further.
Since last year, work has been ongoing in Findlay to lower flood levels.
The first phase of the Blanchard River flood mitigation plan is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
After the benching, the 100-year flood level will be lowered by a foot.
The Maumee Watershed Conservancy District has asked the Stantec engineering firm if they would look into more benching beyond what was initially recommended.
Stantec confirmed that more benching could be done on either, or both sides of the Main Street bridge. In theory, this new plan might lower flood levels another three to four inches.
The engineering firm will perform a study of the area, funded in part by Hancock County, to confirm that theory.
The main location that could be graded off is the large city block just north of the bridge that the county has been clearing since the 2007 flood.
“The area that you can see there, a lot of buildings have been removed, there’s a few more that we’d like to require. But this is entirely beneficial with minimal impacts, correct,” Maumee Watershed Conservance District Project Manager, Steve Wilson, said.
Wilson also said the study will take four to six months to complete.
And if that study finds that this second benching plan is a viable option, it would still take another nine months before any dirt can be moved.
