By David Tyler

Three branches of Ley Creek flow through the town of DeWitt before coming together just east of Military Circle and flowing west through the town of Salina, finally emptying into Onondaga Lake.
The low, flat valley the stream flows through is notorious for flooding in the spring, causing headaches for the residents of several DeWitt neighborhoods as well as businesses across the north side of town. Over the years, sections of the creek have been dramatically modified and erosion and growth along the stream have slowed the flow of stormwater through the system.
“It’s basically been treated like a trench,” said DeWitt Supervisor Ed Michalenko. On Monday morning, he detailed a plan to improve and naturalize 16 sections of the stream, which should reduce flooding throughout the watershed.
The headwaters of Ley Creek are only 50 feet above the level of Onondaga Lake, which adds to the slow movement of water and its propensity for flooding.
“The creek has to have the capacity to accept the water, and it’s not going to flow quickly because it’s flat,” Michalenko said. “You’re running water across a tabletop.”
The project will begin with an engineering analysis to study rainfall and flow rates. That study will help the town prioritize which sections of the stream should be improved first. The study will cost approximately $9,200. Each site that is improved will cost about $3,800.
On Monday, the town board authorized the engineering study and set aside money for work on the first five sites. Michalenko said the permitting process for this type of work – which goes through the Army Corps of Engineers – can take up to two years to complete, so work will not begin for some time.
The money will come from a $75,000 fine that was levied against the U-Haul location on Thompson Road that damaged the stream behind its facility. That money was given to the town and must be used for improvements to Ley Creek.
“It’s coming at basically no cost to the taxpayer,” Michalenko said.
Board members were particularly pleased with the opportunity to improve drainage in the Franklin Park and Dunrovin neighborhoods and commented that they receive a lot of flooding complaints from residents of those neighborhoods.

Butler will continue handling DeWitt’s trash
The town board voted Monday to renew its contract with Butler Disposal for trash removal in the town. There will be no cost increase for the town.
“I think Butler’s doing a good job,” Councilor Jack Dooling said. “I haven’t heard any complaints at all.
It was also announced that brush removal is resuming in the town. The town began removing curbside brush in Zone 4 on Monday. Zone 4 covers the area south of Genesee Street and east of Route 481, including the hamlet of Jamesville.