40. Community Need Cities along the Great Miami River in southwest Ohio rely on the Miami Conservancy District’s (MCD) flood protection system to safeguard their residents, property, infrastructure, and way of life from river flooding. MCD’s five earthen embankment dams, 55 miles of levees, maintained channel, and preserved floodplain have protected cities from Piqua to Hamilton for over 100 years. Land management for this integrated flood protection system enables riverfront communities to develop highly utilized and beloved recreation amenities including parks, trails, and river access. Because these cities have benefited from many years of protection against destructive floodwaters, business can develop without fear. However, this century of service has taken a toll on MCD’s levee systems. With adequate protection, riverfront cities also benefit from the ability to develop their riverfront recreation amenities, residential neighborhoods, and their business districts without fear of flooding.

The levee systems, along with the dams, are an integral part of MCD’s integrated flood protection system that protects communities against catastrophic flood waters. If levees were to fail, the adjacent cities would be inundated in a matter of minutes. The levees protect more than 47,000 properties, over $7 billion value of property, 6 hospitals, over 50 schools and colleges, more than 800 miles of public roads, 14 wastewater treatment plants, and 9 water treatment plants. More than 1 million people rely on these facilities which would be inoperable if the levees fail.

Repairs to the levee system are critical to MCD’s continual protection of the region. Repair work includes concrete floodwall repairs, levee erosion repairs, concrete revetment repairs, replacing concrete with more natural green erosion protections where possible, stormwater pipe repairs, and filling gaps in the levees with high-quality earthen materials. Additional improvements to the levee system will include rebuilding some levees thicker, with better materials, and with flatter slopes. The flatter slopes will improve maintenance quality and save money. They will also make access to the rivers easier from the surrounding communities and promote riverfront economic development. Three locations of levee improvements are in coordination with park and economic development efforts being led by the City of Dayton and CityWide Development including Point Park along the Mad River, McIntosh Park along the Wolf Creek, and the Dakota Street removal.

The initial investment and subsequent funds for maintenance and capital improvement are sourced locally. However, the magnitude of the needed capital investments is estimated to exceed $150 million, would put too heavy a burden on local ratepayers.