ZELIENOPLE — Studies and plans undoubtedly are helpful in assessing and fixing the borough's flooding issues.

But for borough Manager Don Pepe and his team, putting on waterproof boots and seeing the cause of the problem up close and personal might be more revealing.

The borough has been awash with flooding issues in recent years, with three major battles with high water in and around the downtown area in a little under a year. The most recent on May 28 was, perhaps, the most intense that the borough has seen in decades, with council Vice President Andrew Mathew saying it was the first time he had seen water from Glade Run spill over Route 68.

All told, nearly five inches of water fell in a few hours, with rock dams in the borough's Community Park being “blown out” by the deluge.

During the first council meeting after the storm, several community members approached council with concerns and stories. Many said that it is clear to them that the borough's infrastructure is not equipped to handle the amount of rainwater that has hit the borough recently. Others said a lack of upkeep in and along the Connoquenessing Creek was exacerbating issues, with backups forcing water to flow through borough streets and into homes and businesses.

During that discussion, Pepe and borough officials took vigorous notes, documenting the streets and neighborhoods where issues were reported. Council President Allen Bayer referenced the borough's 10-year stormwater management plan, and suggested that taking the newly acquired information and reprioritizing is on the horizon.

The 10-year plan

The plan was created in 2015, Pepe said. It aimed to find deficiencies with retention and identify problem areas running from the Community Park to the Zelienople-Harmony Sportsmen's Club off West Beaver Street.

Pepe said the headwaters start at Interstate 79, and while laws have changed, no stormwater management controls were required when the road was built. That water runs into the Community Park, and although controls were recently put in, storms dumping several inches of water in a short period of time can destroy them in short order.

The water then runs into neighboring streets and eventually ends up on Main Street, affecting homes and businesses along the way.

Pepe said the plan identified a number of costly measures, leading officials to spread the work out over the course of a decade. He said such items as stormwater management controls in the park, steps to prevent creek bank erosion and the implementation of catch basins were included.

“It clearly identifies each and every item that we feel needs to be addressed, and it's very specific,” he said of the large document.

Taking a closer look

However, with flooding becoming more frequent, officials saw the need — and urgency — to revisit the plan.

In addition to gathering information from residents in both public forums and private discussions, Pepe said officials put “boots on the ground” and walked the entirety of the creek within the borough's limits. They intended to identify any blockages in the flow of water and document the condition of the creek.

They also wanted to identify where property owners have encroached into the flood plain with furniture, shed, wood piles and other items.

“This is not meant to be punishing,” Pepe said, adding that residents often don't realize they are potentially creating issues. “We just want to say, 'Please don't do this.'”

During a council meeting last week, borough engineer Tom Thompson said that study found 88 properties had issues that contribute to flooding. He said the data gathered and community feedback would be presented to borough officials. The comprehensive list will then be prioritized based on need and financial impact.

Bayer said some of the work could be completed by borough employees, while some would need to be contracted out.

He said once additions are made, council intends to advertise a meeting in which the changes are outlined and additional public comment is sought.

Meanwhile, Pepe said officials are also working to determine who owns the creek, and thus who is responsible and able to clear blockages. He said that matter is complicated, as the borough does not own the stream, and is thus limited in what it can do to address issues.

Pepe said officials have an idea of how to clean the creek bed if given the chance. And in the event a major storm occurs and causes flooding, the borough will step in.

“We don't want (legal limitations) to be an incumbrance for someone who needs help in an emergency,” he said.

He said officials will continue working to address the issues they can, although he admitted there is no “golden key answer” for solving flooding problems in one fell swoop.

“I know that is not satisfactory to people who experience damage,” he said. “It's going to take a series of conversations about what can be done to mitigate issues.”

Bayer agreed.

“We need to truly understand the complexity of the problem because if it were fixable, we would have fixed it by now,” he said.