Editor
The storm water basin in Spencer Shank Memorial Park in Amelia is going to be renovated to be more functional and take more runoff.
Right now, the basin takes soil and water runoff from subdivisions to the north of the park. It holds backwater during large storms and slowly releases it to the stream, said John McManus, district administrator for the Soil and Water Conservation District Clermont County.
For anything less than a large storm, the basin does nothing. The village is going to renovate the basin so that it will take water from small storms and let it spread out in the basin, which will allow the water to slow down and drop sediments, McManus said.
In addition, village will add some native plants to take some nutrients and pollutants and help filter those out, McManus said.
The village will tear the concrete channel out and put in a meandering stream with a natural bottom so the water will spread out in the basin. It will also reduce the size of the lower level outlet pipe, McManus said.
The renovations will also help reduce erosion that has occurred in the existing creek and give the creek a chance to recover, McManus said.
“It’s going to be more functional and it’s going to look nicer,” McManus said.
Amelia Mayor Todd Hart hopes to begin the project by mid-September. He expects work to take 4-6 weeks.
The village will pay for the project with a $95,000 grant from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency’s Surface Water Improvement Fund. Hart plans to save the village money by using the village’s equipment and employees for the project.
“Aesthetically, it’s going to be nice,” Hart said.
He hopes to also add a Frisbee golf hole to the course already in place, and plans to ask Boy and Girl Scout Troops to make a project out of putting bat houses in.
The concrete basin has not worked properly since it was put in, Hart said.
Amelia Council held a public hearing on August 25 to gather any public input, but no one attended, Hart said.