Watershed Description

The Carmel Creek-White River Watershed is 13,279 acres and drains land from the Town of Fishers, City of Carmel, and City of Indianapolis into the White River. Approximately 29% of the most southwestern portion of the Town of Fishers planning area drains into this watershed. Approximately 88% of this area is within the Town’s corporate limits. The major waterways within the Town of Fishers planning area include: White River, Cheeney Creek, Eller Run, Heath Ditch and 3 regulated drains (RJ Craig Drain, Margaret O’Brien Drain, and Lomaind PK II Drain).

This watershed was predominantly developed between 1985 and 1989. Approximately 30% of the land area is municipally owned as parkland (Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve and Fishers Heritage Park at White River), Oakland Memorial Gardens Cemetery, and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Airfield. A commercial corridor dominates the land use (23%) on either side of I-69 and Allisonville Road. Much of the remaining land use (27%) has been developed into single family and multi-family homes.

Existing Conditions and Concerns

Existing condition and concerns were gathered using a variety of data sources. All resources are referenced in Chapter 7 of this Master Plan. Supporting documentation on water quantity data listed below can be found in Appendix 2 and water quality in Appendix 3.

• Detailed floodplain study (Zone AE) has been completed in the preliminary FIS for Cheeney Creek. Approximate (Zone A) delineations exist for 3 unnamed tributaries to the White River.
• Based on past permits issued by the IDNR, any new Construction in a Floodway permits issued by IDNR in this reach of White River can not allow any increase in water surface elevation to occur, no matter how small. This is because the cumulative effect of past projects has “used up” the allowable surcharge.
• No additional hydrologic or hydraulic studies in this watershed were found that were pertinent to this Master Plan.
• There are 3 USGS stream gauges monitoring flow and stage levels that are applicable to this watershed. Upstream, a gage with over 50 years of record exists in Noblesville. Downstream in the Nora area of Indianapolis is another gage with over 70 years of record. One gage (3350800) is located within the planning area at White River and 146th St near Noblesville. It has been in operation since 2006.
• Based on the peak flow discharge values calculated for the January 2010 preliminary Hamilton County Flood Insurance Study (FIS), the sub-area runoff per acre rates for Cheeney Creek showed the current allowable release rates to be adequate. No existing modeling was located that could be used to evaluate the release rates required by the Ordinance for the unnamed tributaries to White River.
• There are approximately 4 structures in the floodplain of Cheeney Creek, 6 in the floodplain of an unnamed tributary of White River, approximately 6 multi-family units in the floodplain of Cheeney Creek and 2 commercial structures in the unnamed tributary of White River floodplain. It appears that some of these structures are erroneously located in the floodplain. The remaining structures are at risk of flooding during at least the 1% annual chance flood.
• The stream corridors along the White River are densely wooded (500 feet), limited vegetation and minimal setbacks along other waterways.
• Ritchey Woods Nature Preserve is a 127-acre Indiana State designated Nature Preserve that contains a significant (26 acres) wetland preservation and restoration effort.
• This watershed is considered to be fully urbanized. Development plans for Riverplace, a mixed use, multi-story project of office, retail, and condo-style multi-family units located at 96th Street and the White River. Exit 5 Technology Park is an exclusive combination of technology-based business, company headquarters, and light industry. Redevelopment efforts are being considered to enhance the historic Fishers Town Center. Upon the departure of Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, the 575-acre property has the potential to be redeveloped as a transit oriented development village with multi-story, mixed use opportunities adjacent to I-69 and future Indianapolis commuter railroad line.
• Based on available land use data, imperviousness is estimated to be 89% which is typically indicative of poor water quality.
• Water quality monitoring conducted in 2009 at Cheeney Creek and Eller Road for this Master Plan indicates:
• Chemical - Nitrogen levels were below water quality targets while total and dissolved phosphorus concentrations were below detection limits. The Indiana State Water Quality Standard for E. coli was exceeded in 57% of the samples
• Biological – The presence of several types of pollution intolerant species resulted in the highest average PTI score of a 30.5 (excellent) for this sampling effort.
• Physical – QHEI individual metric scores for substrate, in-stream cover, morphology, and pool/riffle structure were high resulting in the 3rd highest overall score of 67/100.
• Other water quality studies:
• 1 USGS ground water monitoring gage (discontinued in 2000) was located within the planning area of Carmel Creek – White River watershed.
• 1 Marion County Health Department Public Access Sampling Program site is located within the larger watershed, just south of the planning area along the White River.
• White River is the only waterway in this watershed that is listed on the State of Indiana 303(d) List of Impaired Streams.
• Based on available land use data for this watershed, it is anticipated that water quality in some or all water bodies is likely impacted by elevated nutrient, bacteria, total suspended solids, and metals loads.
• Dry weather screening conducted by the Town of Fishers identified 114 outfalls (observed dry weather flow at 1 outfall).

Exhibit 2-3b
Floodplains, Drainage & Flooding Concerns

Typical flooding along 106th Street

Eroded stream bank along Cheeney Creek.

Known Drainage Problems or Concerns

The following were drainage problems or complaints identified in the Carmel Creek-White River Watershed by the Town of Fishers staff, recorded in the Town’s Drainage Complaint Database, or gathered during the Public Meeting. These include:

• Street Flooding (13):
  • Drainage flows along 106th Street (A48).
  • Water floods the entrance to Berkley Ridge subdivision as well as part of 106th Street (A46).
  • Water pools on 106th Street and the street is failing (A45).
  • Water ponds on either side of Lantern Road north of 106th Street near the church entrance (A41 & A42).
  • Water from southwest quadrant of intersection drains onto 106th Street (A28).
  • Water ponds on the west side of Lantern Road south of 106th Street (A16).
  • Ponding occurs on Oak Drive at it intersection with 116th Street (A15).
  • Water drains onto Hague Road from Berkley Grove causing icy conditions ( A11).
  • There is no roadside ditch for drainage so water flows down 106th Street (A10).
  • There would be road overtopping during the 1% annual chance flood on Cheeney Creek at Hague Road (AR2) and 106th Street west of Hague Road and west of Allisonville Road (AR1 & AR3).
• Pond Flooding (2):
  • Detention ponds surrounded by mixed use development may not be functioning as effectively as it was originally intended (D1 & D3).
• Streambank Erosion (1):
  • There is severe stream bank erosion along Cheeney Creek (Eller Road north of 106th Street in unincorporated Fishers)(E3).
• Localized Flooding (3):
  • Water pools in ditch behind residential homes at Eller Road and 106th Street (Eller Run neighborhood) (F14).
  • The ditch along Lantern Road north of Fishers Pointe Boulevard (Fishersdale neighborhood) drains poorly (F9).
  • Low lying area in residential yard at Lantern Road and Birch Street does not have suitable outlet (R.E. Harold neighborhood) (F13).