The City of Macedonia, Ohio is home to over 10,000 residents and scores of commercial and industrial businesses.  Steady growth has resulted in the development of over 80 percent of the City’s 9.8 square miles of land, which generates a significant  amount of storm water runoff.  The City is responsible for maintaining over 44 miles of storm sewers, over 70 regional and single-site detention basins, and several waterways. Together, these comprise a storm water management system intended to manage the runoff which is eventually discharged to Indian Creek and Brandywine Creek, a tributary to the Cuyahoga River.

Unfortunately, deficiencies in the system result in occasional flooding in streets, yards, and basements. Such circumstances occurred in 2003 and again in 2006,  when severe flooding led to widespread inundation. In some instances, sanitary sewage backed up into residents’ basements.

In response to these events, in 2006 the City formed the Drainage and Sewer Control Committee (DSCC), consisting of concerned residents with guidance from City officials. CTI was retained to work alongside the DSCC and conduct a storm water management study to collect background information, coordinate a survey of homeowners, prepare drainage maps, and summarize the findings. The goal of this effort was to ascertain which areas of the City should be studied in greater detail, to establish priorities, and to provide a logical sequence for proceeding with recommended improvements.

CTI and the DSCC developed the following summary of findings:

• Flooding problems are City-wide.
• Macedonia is dominated by, and largely contributes to, a single watershed - Indian Creek.
• Indian Creek can handle the 10-year storm, except at Blue Jay Trail.
• Many of the flooding problems are associated with storm water systems connected to Indian Creek.
• Riparian setbacks and restrictions along with streamside detention basins would reduce flooding, improve water quality, and provide opportunities for development of aesthetic/recreational facilities.
• Eight target areas were determined to pose serious threats to the health and safety of residents.
• Past policies and practices varied over time, leading to inconsistencies. The City needs to establish comprehensive, watershed-based standards for in-house decisions and for use by developers.

Together, CTI and the DSCC recommended that the City proceed with the following projects immediately in order to protect the health and safety of citizens and landowners:

• Detailed studies of the two most critical target areas.
• Computer modeling of alternate improvements to Indian Creek.
• Preparation of a City-wide storm sewer system map as required by the NPDES Phase II storm water permit.