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Floodplain plans continue to flow
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By MEGAN FERRINGER
Daily Globe Staff Reporter
SHELBY — The Floodplain Management Commission met on Monday to discuss their progression in the reactivation of the Black Fork Subdistrict of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD).
 Chairman of the Floodplain Commission, Harv Traxler, opened the meeting by explaining where the Commission stands with MWCD in terms of the reactivation — a step that will ultimately help the City of Shelby to fix its flooding problems.
The Black Fork Subdistrict was formed as a part of the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) back in 1959, but was deactivated in the 1970s due to lack of activity. Now because of the efforts of the Floodplain Commission, the opportunity exists to collaborate with MWCD to reactivate the Black Fork Subdistrict and to pursue a permanent solution to the flood problems plaguing not only Shelby, but properties continuing on into the Charles Mill Lake downstream. Once reactivated, an official water management and flood control plan will be instated.
“At this stage, we have spoken with the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy and realized that we are part of its watershed. They let us know that they are interested in helping,” said Eric Barkdull, a member of the Floodplain Commission. “It’s in Shelby’s best interest to get the Black Fork Subdistrict reactivated.”
According to Mayor Marilyn John the resolution to support the Black Fork Subdistrict reactivation passed through City Council on August 16. The next steps include visiting city and state officials to bring them up to date on Shelby’s plans with MWCD. Once this has been completed, a formal petition will be sent to the Board of Directors at MWCD to make reinstating the subdistrict official. John stated this process will take place within the next couple of months.
“Once the Black Fork Subdistrict gets reinstated, MWCD will bring in their engineers and their expertise to assess Shelby’s water and flooding situation and ultimately put together a plan,” John said. “Reactivating the subdistrict also opens up funding options that were not there before.”
According to Barkdull, reinstatement in the Black Fork Subdistrict is something that, in the long run, will hold countless benefits for Shelby and could eventually mean a renaissance of sorts to its blighted downtown.
“The Floodplain Commission has worked very hard on this,” Barkdull said. “It has been hard for me to watch Shelby’s thriving downtown turn into the place we know now. Reactivating the subdistrict will be a very big deal for Shelby.”
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