Ives Drain
Since the 1950’s the City of Big Rapids in Mecosta County has grown from a small agricultural municipality into a diverse community. A natural watercourse that empties into the Muskegon River was located on the City’s west side near Ives Avenue. As the City grew, minimal historic stormwater detention was installed, increasing the amount of stormwater runoff to this watercourse. This increased the energy to the natural streambed, resulting in erosion issues severe enough that landowners were in fear of losing their homes and outbuildings. Bank erosion also threatened the integrity of City infrastructure by exposing underground sanitary sewer pipes.
In 2019, landowners petitioned the Mecosta County Drain Commissioner (MCDC), and the Ives Drain was formally established under the Michigan Drain Code. The MCDC hired Spicer Group, Streamside Ecological, and Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes to assist with establishing the drain, acquiring the necessary easements and permits, and designing drain improvements to mitigate the erosion issues.
The area’s urbanization did not allow for the creation of any kind of stormwater storage or detainment typical for improvement projects like this one. To combat erosion issues, the team designed a project that maintained current infrastructure and constructed new drain infrastructure to convey stormwater at safe velocities in a stabilized channel. This included constructing a 3,416 foot-long Rosgen Type B channel that ran from the end of an existing 84-inch enclosed storm sewer pipe at Ives Avenue to the Muskegon River.
The newly established Ives Drain included subdivided sections of riffles and pools. More than 8,000 tons of rocks and rip rap were installed within the stream bed to help dissipate energy, and rock headers helped channel the water to the center, where it is deeper and can keep the water away from the banks to prevent erosion. The project was funded through contributions from the City of Big Rapids, Ferris State University, and the Michigan Department of Transportation, which greatly lowered the cost passed along to landowners.
