Stormwater Engineer Provides Update on Thomas Creek

1/3/23 @ 2:20 p.m. - Flooding along Thomas Creek has been an area of concern for many years. Previous efforts to mitigate those concerns have been unsuccessful so the County sought assistance from the Army Corps of Engineers on a possible solution. 

In 2019, a Planning Assistance to States (PAS) study was conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers and Nassau County staff which included extensive modeling with multiple scenarios. The PAS Study findings were presented to and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on June 13, 2022, with direction to Staff to create an implementation for the Study's recommendations. 

​The results of the Study were also presented at a Community Meeting held the evening of Friday, August 5, 2022, at the Callahan County Building. In addition to the results of the study being introduced, there were discussions about grant opportunities available to assist residents including modifications to existing homes and potential buyouts. 

Following Board direction, the Stormwater and Drainage Department began working on an Implementation Plan while simultaneously taking other steps to improve drainage in the area. Examples include working with CSX Railroad to clear blockages near the railroad bridge; adding a stream gauge to Thomas Creek to monitor stream levels and rain; conducting home visits to meet with residents about issues relevant to their properties; issuing work orders to have the road department make various drainage improvements; and removal of vegetation near US 1 to make the creek more navigable. 

At the December 21, 2022 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Ms. Peay presented the draft Thomas Creek Implementation Plan which includes information on land acquisitions and modifications to home utilizing a combination of grant funding and County funding. Anyone interested in learning more can watch on the Clerk's website by clicking here. The presentation is listed under Tab J. Further discussion of the draft Thomas Creek Implementation Plan will be held during the 2023 Winter Strategic Planning Sessions being held February 16 - February 17, 2023.