North Branch Ecorse Drain

The North Branch of the Ecorse Creek Drain flows for 16 miles before emptying into the Detroit River and drains a 27,100-acre watershed that encompasses nine cities in Wayne County. With a long history of damage-causing flooding during heavy rain events, the city of Dearborn Heights petitioned the Wayne County Drain Commissioner for maintenance and improvement of the creek under Chapter 8 of the Michigan Drain Code.

Spicer was hired by Wayne County to conduct a flood study aimed at finding solutions to the flooding. During this task, engineers inspected the entire length of the North Branch measuring existing cross sections, bridges and storm sewers and assessing hydraulic conditions of the drain. Engineers analyzed maps by using GIS layers to determine hydrologic information. This study included HEC-RAS modeling of storm events and analyzing how they affected the drainage district.

Spicer developed alternative solutions and conducted feasibility analyses for each solutions that incorporated the drain hydraulics, cost effectiveness, constructability, funding, cultural and environmental impacts, and expected effectiveness. At the end of the study, the team concluded that the most cost-effective alternative would incorporate a two-stage channel along the entire length of the creek, with regional storm water delineations and bridge improvements.