Oakmont takes on flood-prone Plum Creek

Joe Cringle was at work when flood waters from Hurricane Ivan spilled into his townhouse in September 2004.

“I came home, and I had no idea we were flooded,” said Cringle, 59.

“This was a lake,” he said, pointing to the street in front of his home in Oakmont Commons, a residential development along Plum Creek.

Cringle took off his work boots and waded through knee-high water to his front door. Everything on the first floor was flooded. He grabbed a change of clothes and his medication before checking into a hotel.

The storm caused $30,000 in damage to his home. Cringle didn't have flood insurance, so he took out a loan to pay for the repairs.

Dozens of homes in Oakmont Commons were under water like Cringle's.

Eleven years later, work is under way on a flood mitigation project for Plum Creek to avoid the kind of flooding that followed Hurricane Ivan.

Crews will remove sediment to improve the flow of the creek and plant trees to secure the soil along its banks.

Oakmont council approved $14,400 this month for surveying and engineering. Construction could begin this summer.

“It's a huge step forward,” borough council President Tom Briney said.

The cost of the project hasn't been determined, and officials said it's unknown when construction would be complete.

Homeowners and businesses have dealt with flooding along Plum Creek before Ivan.

“Every time there's a heavy rain, our street crew is constantly going down to Plum Creek and monitoring how high it's getting,” said Ryan Jeroski, the borough's assistant secretary.

Jeroski said he hopes that once the project is finished, high water won't be a constant issue for property owners along the creek.

Penn Hills, Plum and Verona have joined Oakmont in reviving the Plum Creek Watershed Committee, which had been dormant for years.

Pete McQuillin serves on the committee and manages a cemetery in Penn Hills across the creek from Oakmont. He said the stream is causing erosion along his property.

While McQuillin said he was in favor of Oakmont's flood plan, he added: “I don't think it's enough. It's a minor project for what it really needs.”

He believes officials should build retention ponds on the Penn Hills side of the creek to catch storm water before it cascades into the stream.

Oakmont officials are considering additional projects.

“This project is the starting point,” said David Ivanek, an engineer who is overseeing Oakmont's flood prevention efforts.

Cringle said he's glad the borough is moving forward with its plan.

He hasn't experienced flooding since Ivan, but he has had ponding in his backyard.

“Finally,” he said, “something is going to be done.”

Tony Raap is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-320-7827 or traap@tribweb.com.