GETAWAY – Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District has almost finished a log jam removal project aimed at reducing future flood problems.

Monday, June 25, 2001

GETAWAY – Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District has almost finished a log jam removal project aimed at reducing future flood problems.

Crews with B&J Construction began removing logs, stumps and other debris from Symmes Creek last week, the beginning of the $10,000 project, said Matt Capper, district technician

The area, about four miles east of Getaway on Ohio 243, had been a concern for some time, Capper said.

Logs and debris had floated down the creek, snagging on other stumps and overhanging trees in one area. Water would continually back up, acting like it had hit a "tree dam" of sorts and flooding the nearby area. The trapped water also caused problems both upstream and downstream.

This spring’s rains prompted even more calls from concerned residents who said the situation had gotten worse, so Lawrence Soil and Water sought help from an emergency grant program.

Eventually, the district dipped into its emergency funds to remove the log jam because it had become a danger to so many people along the creek, Capper said.

B&J Construction received the bid, beginning work almost immediately last week. The company will remove the debris completely and resow the embankment with grass.