Planners are seeking public input as they study the sediment accumulation and flooding issues in Millers Creek in Ann Arbor.
A public meeting from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in the basement conference room of Larcom City Hall at 301 East Huron St. in Ann Arbor is intended to foster a discussion of flood management plans for the creek.
The city of Ann Arbor has a $46,026 contract with Environmental Consulting & Technology for a sediment study and a design recommendation. City Council approved the contract in May.
Millers Creek has a 2.4-square-mile watershed. Though it’s the smallest tributary to the Huron River, it’s also known for flash floods that are worsened by the severe slope of the creek bed.
The creek has a swift descent to the river until it reaches a point near Huron High School at 2727 Fuller Road where the creek bed plateaus — a geologic feature that causes the creek to deposit most of the sediment it carries by Ruthven Nature Area at Huron Parkway and Fuller Road.
Years of sediment buildup near the delta of the creek has choked the waterway when the creek swells as it rains. The creek also runs through a heavily residential area along Huron Parkway.
The strong flash floods carry large amounts of sediment, which are dumped in the creek’s channel and has diverted the flow of water from the east side of Ruthven Nature Area to the west side.
As a result, it doesn’t take much rainfall for the creek to flood Geddes Road.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.