Bridge, Phillips, Elam Drainage District News From the desk of Milton Sandy Jr
May 1, 2013
Vol 2013-1
This newsletter is directed to friends and supporters of our efforts to get something done about the repetitive flooding in Corinth and Alcorn County which on May 2, 2010, caused loss of life, public and private property and threatened public health and safety by the massive release of raw sewage into flood waters. If you have news, questions or comments, please fire away.
THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING Flood Threat for May This past week the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District (TRVWMD) work crews arrived to begin work on the 3 remaining projects of the 5 approved for the City of Corinth shortly after the flood of May 2, 2010. These pictures are just a few examples of the spectacular work being done. Work has been completed on Elam Creek from Hwy 72 to Tate Street and has moved cross town to Phillips Creek beginning at Farmington Road. Crews will work downstream on Phillips to its junction with Bridge Creek. The final project will run from the Norfolk Southern Railroad crossing over Bridge Creek downstream to Hwy 72 next to Tractor Supply.
Contact: Milton Sandy Jr 662-286-6087 - Fax 287-4322 - E-mail mlsandy@tsixroads.com
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K-MART LAWSUIT and the Retention Pond Revisited As I have mentioned before, the subject of hydrology can be rather complex even on what appear to be simple matters. Back in issue V2012-8, you may recall the diagram below of the drainage of the Kmart/Kroger Shopping Center and the retention pond across Fulton Drive. I thought that I had beaten that subject pretty much to death. Turns out I overlooked another major factor that has been affecting this pond's function.
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We all know by instinct and education that water runs downhill. The retention pond is designed to receive the stormwater runoff from the Kmart/Kroger Shopping Center and then slowly drain it downhill through the outlet culvert into Elam Creek. This designed delay is to help protect Elam Creek from flooding. The 15� outlet culvert runs approximately 148' in distance and drops from 421.67' elevation at the pond end to 420.78' at the creek- all downhill. The arrows on the photo point in the direction of the slope and the way the water should travel. My calculations were that the retention pond if it were initially empty and working properly would hold approximately 13� of rainfall from the shopping center parking lot, roof, and surrounding hard surface areas. The big question previously posed was whether the pond was empty or, in fact, full at the time of the May 2, 2010 flood due to the action of beavers working relentlessly to block the outlet drain. It turns out that we finally seemed to have turned the corner with the beavers late last year in December 2012. After a couple of encounters with the electric fence grate over the culvert entrance, there has been no sign of beavers actively trying to block the grate. In early January we received a couple of inches of rain over a two day period and Elam Creek rose above the level of the culvert outlet from the retention pond. After the water went down, I checked the culvert and found that the electric grate over the culvert inlet had been pushed loose and the cage surrounding the culvert entrance was blocked with debris- from the inside. After a rainfall event in March and another in April, I observed the same blockage from the inside and the grate being pushed out. My first thought was that beavers had returned for revenge and were again trying to block the outlet culvert. On closer inspection and reflection, it became clear that what was happening was that water was backing uprunning uphill- and had blown out accumulated debris inside the culvert into the surrounding cage. During a significant rainfall event, water was being forced uphill through the culvert and was also filling the pond from water flowing down Elam Creek. After the rain stopped and Elam went down, the culvert began draining better than ever and the pond level has now dropped lower than it has in the last 10 years. The pond now routinely empties over several days after a major rainstorm as it was designed to do. This back 2/11/2013 Retention pond outlet culvert with washing action cleaned the 148' culvert of debris and grate pushed forward from back flow debris that had been accumulated over the from Elam Creek last 20 years.
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It turns out the idea of water running uphill is not a new one. One of Hammurabi's Assyrian successors built a pipeline which relied on pressure to force water up a topographical depression around 690 BC. In 25 BC, the Ionian Greeks built a 25 mile aqueduct with Terra-cotta piping and a section that crossed a low valley and then rose again on the other side against the natural force of gravity. So 2,000 years later I'm just now discovering water will run uphill when the level of water in Elam Creek rises above the level in the retention pond and creates back pressure to force water from the Creek into the pond. A solution to this problem was crafted this past week with the assistance of the TRVWMD and one of their talented employees, Mr. Will Hamilton. Will is a native of Shannon, Mississippi, and is a very talented welder. To prevent water from Elam running backward into the retention pond, Will and I devised a simple back flow preventer or “flap” valve. The valve allows water to run out of the retention pond when the creek is below the level of the culvert outlet. When the level of water in Elam Creek rises above the culvert level, the flowing current should press the flap tight against the culvert opening and seal it. Most flap valves are made with hinges and plate steel but we decided to try a Will Hamilton of TRVWMD installs "flap" valve low cost alternative which serves as both the flap and hinge. Will welded 2” angle iron to form a square rim around the culvert opening. The flap/hinge was cut from a Tractor Supply Company heavy duty 4' x 6'- 3/4” thick rubber mat which are sold for horse mat use in stables. I have photos to prove this back flow has been happening in the retention pond. What I can't prove at this point is whether the same thing happens in the 50” culvert along Allen St. which runs from Elam Creek to the drainage area behind the Kmart/Kroger shopping center. If it works the same way, during flooding Finished "flap" valve conditions on Elam Creek water could be pushed uphill and into the area behind the shopping center to eventually find its way overland downhill flooding the shopping center and destroying my fences. None of this was mentioned in the experts report
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in the Kmart/Kroger/City of Corinth lawsuit.
HATS OFF TO AN OLD FRIEND As happy as I was this past week to see the work crews from the TRVWMD arrive and begin clearing the creeks on our long anticipated projects, I was greatly saddened to hear our dear friend Richard Bryant, chief engineer for the TRVWMD, was not going to be joining us because of an extended leave of absence for health problems. Richard was the first person I ever met with the Tombigbee River Valley Water Management District. Richard was always positive, uplifting and wonderful in disposition - qualities he never subsequently failed to run short of in spite of my constant questions and pestering. Early on, Richard promised the TRVWMD could help with our flooding problems and I am forever grateful for his delivery on his promise and even more grateful for the gift of his friendship. His warmth and grace were always qualities of a gentleman who I learned to respect and admire. In my experience, the TRVWMD is the only governmental agency with the knowledge and resources to prevent flooding in Northeast Mississippi by solving drainage problems. Richard is a very valuable part of that package of expertise. Richard is currently in Nashville 2/27/2012 - Steve Wallace and Richard Bryant at undergoing cancer treatment. Our hopes Bridge Creek, CR402, Corinth, Mississippi and prayers for his recovery in this battle are foremost on our mind. If you would like to send Richard a card or word of thanks, his address is: Richard Bryant c/o Hope Lodge 2008 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, TN 37203
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