Indian Creek Crossings

The 112-year-old Indian Creek Intercounty Drain collects water from a 19,692-acre watershed in Lapeer, Sanilac, and Tuscola counties consisting mostly of rural and agricultural lands. The drain passes under 25 crossings before outletting into the North Branch of the Flint River. Several areas along the drain were showing signs of heavy sedimentation and severe log jams, which resulted in flooded properties and closed roadways during heavy runoff events. Expecting the conditions to worsen, the Indian Creek Intercounty Drain Board hired Spicer Group to develop a drain maintenance plan for the creek. As part of the plan, engineers conducted a condition survey of 11 miles of the drain. The study identified areas of very heavy sedimentation, severe log jams and many roadway crossings that were in poor condition, undersized, and obstructed. Out of the 25 crossings that were examined, 15 were inadequate and had openings that were too small and/or set to high in relation to the drain’s flow line.

Spicer Group’s solution included complete channel maintenance and improvements for 11.5 miles of open drain and removing/replacing drain crossings that were undersized, were constructed at the wrong elevation, or were in poor condition. In total, four original crossings were replaced with concrete box culverts; five culverts were replaced with new corrugated metal pipe, and one crossing was removed permanently. In addition to removing all obstructions and debris from the drain, sediment was removed and construction crews reconstructed the drain bottom to its original width.