Lagging funds prevents clearance of logjam caused by tornado

A big exception was in 2013, when historic flooding caused the Wildcat to crest at over 17 feet, leaving 3 feet of water in their basement.

No local or state government agency has the jurisdiction or the funding to remove logjams from waterways.

George Bowman, assistant director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resource's Division of Water, said state code has always left it up to property owners to clean up logjams, unless the obstruction is located on property owned by the IDNR.

Howard County Deputy Surveyor Greg Lake, who also serves as the county's stormwater district administrator, said safely and effectively removing the jams would likely require a contractor with specialized equipment, and those services can come with a hefty price tag.

With no government agency in charge of keeping the creek free of obstructions, volunteer groups like the Wildcat Guardians have taken it upon themselves to clean up the river so it remains passable for canoers and kayakers.

Lake said he contacted the non-profit organization to see if they might be able to help dismantle the logjams on Meehan's property, but he was informed the obstructions were too large for members to handle.

The most long-term solution would be getting the county to designate the Wildcat as a regulated drain, which would allow the county to impose a tax on residents living in the river's watershed that would fund maintenance of the creek.

Every resident would have to be notified of the proposal, and a public meeting would be held.

Lake said the surveyor's office would be open to applying for the money, but chances of receiving funding for Meehan's property would be extremely slim.

The final option would be convincing state and federal officials cleaning up the jams would be part of a larger mitigation effort on the Wildcat.

"Unless there's a mitigation project lying in wait, I'm afraid the only way this gentleman's concerns are going to eased is him doing it or his neighbors doing it," Lake said.