MATHEWS COURTHOUSE FLOODING

Million Dollar Problem - Simple Solution.

While studying all the ditches in Mathews, I found myself wondering if the courthouse district was as neglected as the rest of the county in respect to ditches and drainage. I was appalled and shocked at what I found: the original ditches are now nearly non-existent.  They are full of trees 30 to 90 years old. As an example, look at the ditch between the home and Riverside Convalescent Center. This indicates to me that the Virginia Department of Transportation has not followed their documented rule which stresses clean ditches with correct contour.  The VDOT guidelines also demand ditch pipes to be cleaned once yearly and highway cross pipes once every 2 years.  Anyone can see this is not the case countywide.

Throughout its history, Main Street Mathews has had flooding and drainage issues. It is in an area that is low compared to other locations within the courthouse limits. In the storm of '33, flooding was waist to chest deep in portions of the courthouse.  But up to the early 1980's, except for unusual flood tides, the current drain system functioned well and could digest 10" to 14" of rain and still be ok.  As the ditches and cross pipes filled with sediment and leaves, they slowly lost their effectiveness.  Now the drainage system is almost useless.  

The storms of the past 10 years or so have highlighted another problem.  We suffer an issue with outfall design which historically transported a large percentage of the water to Garden Creek and not Put In Creek. Why is that so important?   Well, consider the amount of storage area in 3 miles of large ditches versus 300 to 600' of tidally affected and plugged streams.

The solution seems to be simple maintenance. However, VDOT has opted to offer 2.1 Million of our tax dollars to remove the sediment and the cross pipes and replace them with all new stuff. [Source:  VDOT CABB Saluda District] Will the new pipes be neglected and eventually condemned? 

The outfall to Garden Creek must be cleaned.  I have asked for answers and received no believable or prudent reply.  If it’s a black and white discussion, the parties responsible should tell us and the media not only why neglect is being allowed now, but why it has gone on for so long?  I have been asking these questions long before talk of budget cuts and budget manipulation within VDOT.  VDOT is currently offering a drainage study which eats up more money.  I hope the engineering is better than previous projects. As an example, I offer the Rt. 14 and 198 upgrade at Ward’s Corner. This new, almost navigable, canal and runoff containment pond appear to have the wrong elevation and can't drain the roadway it was engineered to serve!

The disaster of neglect and probable poor engineering in Mathews needs our attention and action.  If you disbelieve any of this, grab your BOOTS and follow me through the ditches of Mathews Courthouse.

G.C Morrow

Onemo Va.