They just celebrated their 100^th anniversary last year and remain dedicated to keeping the integrity of the levee system of the Great Miami River protected. Troy Rotary Club hosted Dr. Sarah Hippensteel Hall, Assistant Director of the Miami Conservancy District, at their March 1^st meeting to hear an update on the 55 miles of levees, dams, basins and appurtenances that have been put in place since the 1913 flood wiped out businesses and homes while causing hundreds of deaths in the area.

The district was formed following the devastating flood and given the responsibility of creating an infrastructure that protects cities, towns and villages against overflowing banks. They also seek to improve the integrity of the system with modifications, repairs and improvements, especially related to dams and dam safety. These structures have successfully held back water more than 1,900 times since 1922. Changes in the climate and water flow are managed easily, thanks to the current system, as the total capacity that the dams can hold back is 274 billion gallons of river water.

In addition to managing, monitoring and maintaining the infrastructure, the district is a regional partner with member communities, including Troy. It produces and coordinates environmental studies and impact analyses. The district has partnered on construction projects such as the Tri-Cities (Huber Heights, Vandalia, and Tipp City) when they constructed a regional sewage treatment plant. Groundwater protection is a main objective. The aquifer is one of the largest in the world and many communities, including Troy, pull from it as it is a much safer source than surface water. The Miami Conservancy District also provides expertise to protect raw water wells. With the federal government’s Phase II storm water management protection mandates, it has helped members meet the various requirements. As a result of this coordination, compliance with the requirements has been more cost-effective for communities, like Troy, than it would have been if each community worked alone. Along with protection projects, the district supports riverfront redevelopment to promote more tourism and recreation. It has worked with City of Troy officials as the community improves riverfront offerings. With a growing millennial population, attracting families, workers, and active young people to our community is critical to expanding our population and workforce. For more information on the Miami Conservancy District, visit their Web site at http://miamiconservancy.org/. For an update on Troy’s Treasure Island Park development project, visit http://www.recreationparks.net/OH/miami/treasure-island-park-troy.

Troy Rotarians, and the Troy Rotary Foundation, support several community projects annually. In 2014-15, more than $16,000 in scholarships and community aid was distributed from the fund, including the annual Shoe Project, Troy After Prom and support for summer camps at Brukner Nature Center and Waco Air Museum. Club members are always looking for new topics to share at weekly meetings. If you are interested in presenting your business or organization, please visit the Troy Rotary Web site at www.troyohiorotary.org and submit your information in the “Contact Us” section. Troy Rotary is a member-involved, goal-oriented service club focused on socio/economic issues that have an impact both locally and internationally. You can follow their activities on Facebook at Troy Rotary Club.