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Resident urges release of HEC‑RAS files, argues benching could be more effective than off‑stream basin
Summary
A Findlay resident with hydrology experience urged the city to release raw HEC‑RAS files and reconsider an off‑stream basin approach, arguing that benching the Blanchard River would provide greater capacity; city staff said phase 1 benching and ongoing work with Stantec address many concerns, but noted changing federal grant scope could delay the project.
At the public‑comment period, James Routson, a resident of the 6th Ward who said he worked for 20 years in a chemical laboratory and has knowledge of hydrology, criticized the FEMA and HEC‑RAS modeling underpinning the city's flood mitigation work and requested raw model files so residents could verify assumptions. "FEMA only reviews the digital data inputs your engineers provide. They do not conduct independent field verifications of downstream bottlenecks," Routson said, arguing the current steady‑state flow assumptions mask downstream constrictions and may understate risk for neighborhoods downstream of the railroad bridge.
Mayor Mearn and staff responded that phase 1 benching was intentionally designed to address the water‑capacity concerns near the railroad bridge and that residents should work with project leads and Stantec for technical follow‑up. The mayor cautioned that changing the scope of a federal grant could delay the project. Councilmember Dan recommended Routson meet with Stantec and the flood‑mitigation contacts to pursue technical review. Routson said he would pursue a petition for the HEC‑RAS files and continue outreach.
