An open house was held at the Glendale branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on February 6. Representatives were on hand from the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) and the Department of Public Works (DPW) to answer questions about the upcoming tree clearing along the White River levee on the north side of Indianapolis. The ACE conducted a survey of the entire levee for the White River that starts on the north end in Broad Ripple and goes south along the river. Hundreds of detailed cross-sections were drawn showing every tree and its relationship to the levee wall. From these cross-sections it was determined which vegetation could remain and which would be removed. As shown in the above right photo, the cross-sections show the height of the dirt around the levee wall. Based on ACE standards, a dotted line (enhanced with green) shows the minimum area that cannot contain any plant growths. If a tree had a root ball in the critical area and the tree fell over in a storm, the root ball would rip from the levee allowing for further erosion and possible breach. Anything putting roots in to the designated areas is slated for removal. Many trees though have their entire root ball (highlighted in red) above that minimum safe line and can therefore remain on the river bank.

Jacob Sinkhorn, project engineer from the Corps, said that the clearing will happen this Spring.