Ecorse Creek Flooding Prompts County Efforts

During the summer of 2004, the City of Dearborn Heights held a public meeting concerning flooding that occurred during the spring of 2004. In response to the public meeting, the City of Dearborn Heights filed a petition with the Wayne County Drain Commissioner‘s office for the maintenance and improvement of the Drain.

When a petition is filed, the statute requires a Board of Determination hearing be convened. The purpose of the Board of Determination hearing is to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to submit evidence and testimony so the Board can determine whether a project is needed.

On December 15, 2004, at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Campus Field House, 4901 Evergreen Road, Field House Building #233, Dearborn, Michigan, the Board of Determination for the North Branch of the Ecorse Creek Drain was held in accordance with the Michigan Drain Code, Public Act 40 of 1956.

At the hearing, the Board of Determination found that improvements along the North Branch of the Ecorse Creek Drain were necessary to the public health, and that lands should be added to the Drainage District to match the drain‘s watershed. The board‘s decision came after a nine hour-long meeting in which testimony of repetitive and severe flooding problems from landowners in the drainage district was heard.

As a result of the Board of Determination hearing the Wayne County Drain Commissioner issued a request for qualifications and request for proposals for the purpose of contracting professional services to undertake a flood control study of the North Branch of the Ecorse Creek Drain. Sealed qualifications and proposals were received at the office of the Wayne County Drain Commissioner on February 18, 2005.

The Wayne County Drain Commissioner, Kurt L. Heise, serving at the direction of Wayne County CEO, Robert A. Ficano, selected the Spicer Group Team as the consultants for the North Branch of the Ecorse Creek Flood Control Study. The Spicer Group‘s consulting team consists of Applied Science, Inc., ECT Inc., NTH Consultants, Ltd., and Hennessey Engineering.

Wayne County and its consultants have completed the Flood Control Study. The results of the study can be found under the Task Reports section of the Website.