During the spring and fall, the Huron river that flows through Ann Arbor
often floods causing property damage. A small tributary of the Huron River
near Lawton School creates flooding problems to nearby homes affecting many
students of the school. Also at the Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills,
flooding occurs along the Rouge River. Because this river flows near Cranbrook,
it creates many flooding problems for the school.
In cooperation with a hydrology study of the Huron River to help relieve
flooding within the city of Ann Arbor, we are being asked to work with the
Cranbrook School to gather data that might help us understand and solve
this problem of increasing property damage. Perhaps lessons learned from
this study can help the city of Ann Arbor find solutions before the problems
of flooding become severe.
Both classes will need to work independently to generate reliable data
using sound research that can be compared throughout the project. We are
very interested in unique, feasible solutions to the current problems including
what is happening, why it is happening now, and what can be done to prevent
the flooding from occurring in the future. Local agencies will also be involved
with this effort and can be asked for help. Any sound conclusions you can
reach from your work should be collected in a final report, which will be
delivered to my office and reported in an oral presentation to the class
and to the representatives of the local Huron River agencies.
The communities of Ann Arbor and Bloomfield Hills wish you the best in
completing this activity. Your project is one part of the solution and with
your help we may be able to solve the current flooding problems.
Sincerely,
Ruth Williams
Lawton School Principal
