Stony Creek Feasibility Study

The Neighborhoods of James Place and Wellington Northeast in Noblesville have been concerned about the erosion and stream flow changes they have seen in Stony Creek over the past several years. The two neighborhoods have been working with the SWCD to see what could be done to get their stream back. After observing the negative resource concerns to a valuable natural area in our urban landscape, the SWCD decided to pursue an engineering feasibility study to help determine what can be done to alleviate the erosion and other concerns in the area. With the help of LARE funding, the SWCD was able to hire FlatLand Resources (FLR). Through this study we hope to find out what can be done to improve the erosion situation, increase wildlife and aquatic habitat, and return this valuable natural resource to a high quality site within our community

For more information read our newsletter article on the topic. 

Check out this drone map of the study area!

​Public input will also play an integral role on how Stony Creek is stabilized and restored.  After utility crossings cut off the main channel to flow of the creek, forcing waters through a bypass channel one fourth the length of the now abandoned channel.  This drastic change in slope of the channel greatly increased the velocity of the water, exacerbating erosion on the creek banks.  Should flow not be restored to the main channel, this erosion will continue until Stony Creek reaches a state of equilibrium.  Left to its own devices, the creek would create a new channel alignment nearly as long as the now abandoned channel.  The timeline for this to occur is well beyond our lifetime, and the harm to creek ecosystem downstream of the site would be great due to the amount of sediment entering the system.  Therefore, the most obvious option to solving this problem is to return flow to the main channel.
 
However, residents living near both the bypass and abandoned channel desire to maintain and /or return channel flow while reducing bank erosion.  There are many feasible options to creating this balance, one that allows residents to enjoy nature while restoring habitats and ecosystems within the project limits.

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Sign up for project updates

​​Involving stakeholders into the process is vital to reach a balance between the needed changes and the quality of life for the residents.  Please consider joining our stakeholders group for more information and to become a voice in the change needed for this area.

Scroll to bottom of this page to get on the list, or click here.

We need your input!

Donate Matching Funds

Consider helping this project by providing matching funds for the grant  project here (your contribution is an important part of the grant):

Support Stony Creek with Matching Funds

​​You can make out checks to:
Hamilton County Soil and Water Conservation District
and send it to:
1717 Pleasant St., Suite 100
​Noblesville, IN 46060

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Open House Virtual Event - March 26th
​ 
In a continuing effort to slow the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) our Open House event will be conducted with use of this website.  Please fill out the survey and input your information below to be involved in the program.

We will be following up with individuals for your perspective and to give your individualized input, please fill out the form below to be contacted about the project and study.
​
Questions about the project can be directed to Ginger Davis ginger.davis@hamiltoncounty.in.gov  ​

For more information on upcoming meetings, check our Facebook Events page. 

​Or Click here to complete this form in another window

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Meet FlatLand Resources (FLR)
Phil Tevis (PRINCIPAL/ PROJECT MANAGER)
David Heilman (PROJECT MANAGER)

​FLR HISTORY
FlatLand Resources is a planning, design-build, and project management
firm founded in 2000 based out of Muncie, Indiana. We pride ourselves
in serving communities in the Midwest Region. We currently employ five
graduates of the Ball State University Landscape Architecture program,
one Biology graduate, and an IVY Tech graduate.
FLR APPROACH
We seek to utilize our diversity of expertise in the field of natural systems,
civil engineering, and environmental design/planning in the analysis of
environmental problems at various scales. We want to understand the
systematic and cultural factors that result in the degradation of natural
resources and to determine/implement practical solutions at each of
these scales. We are confident in our abilities to help urban and rural
communities develop long-range plans and strategies to enhance natural
resources. Utilizing natural systems in the design of human infrastructure
is at the core of our approach.

FLR INTENTION
Our intention is to make our variety of planning and “green” designbuild
‘knowledge bases’ available to you throughout the implementation
process. We want to see things “on the ground” and desire - more than
anything - to assist you to get your ideas off the shelf, off ‘paper’, and
into geospatial reality. The projects featured in this document showcase
the utilization of green infrastructure in creative and cost-effective ways.
MANAGERS/ FUND PROCUREMENT
FLR has a long history of project management and fund procurement.
We can help guide the community through the RFP process and bid
document development as well as through the hiring and managing of
day to day project work flows. We have established relationships with
local and regional foundations and have worked extensively through State
and Federal grant sources. We want the opportunity to help you find
additional funding and will assist in developing realistic cost-estimates
and funding matrices for grant applications.

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The Issues:

EROSION: Due to the cut off channel the slope of the stream has increased which will cause immediate erosion through the new channel and further impacts downstream

LOW HEAD DAM: The low head dam can interfere with migration of fish and other aquatic life.  This low head dam is not a safety risk but does impact the quality of the stream for both water quality and habitat.

INFRASTRUCTURE: There are a variety of utility crossings in the area that will be impacted by the streams migration over time.  We would like to see how utilities and stream structure will interact through this study.

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Project funding provide by LARE- DNR Lake and River Enhancement Funding Grant

Thank you to our partners at the Indiana State Department of Natural Resources for seeing the potential in funding this project to help conservation of natural resources to our community. The goal of the Division of Fish & Wildlife's Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program is to protect and enhance aquatic habitat for fish and wildlife, and to insure the continued viability of Indiana's publicly accessible lakes and streams for multiple uses, including recreational opportunities. This is accomplished through measures that reduce non-point sediment and nutrient pollution of surface waters to a level that meets or surpasses state water quality standards. Visit the LARE page for more information.

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