2/22/17 – 5:12 A.M.

It doesn’t look like a consulting company’s plan for Blanchard River flood mitigation will cost any less than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s plan. The Courier reports estimates from Stantec Engineering will double the $80 million estimate from the Corps. Findlay officials learned Stantec’s plan calls for a bigger diversion channel during last night’s council meeting. The plan also includes large water detention areas upstream of Findlay in the area of Mount Blanchard and along Eagle Creek.

Mayor Lydia Mihalik told council removing dams from the river and cutting retention “benches” into the river bank to widen it as it flows through Findlay could be enough to drop flood levels in the city by a foot during a 100-year-flood. Stantec’s report says the price tag on that option is around $20 million.

he Corps estimated its plan would drop flood levels by two feet during a 100-year-flood.

A public meeting about Stantec’s findings takes place at 6 p.m. tonight at the Winebrenner Theological Seminary.

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