Brad Bennett - Protecting the public and serving the community

Puncheon Run Cleanup

After years of wading through the problems caused by a constantly flooding stream, residents of several south Dover communities are finally getting some relief, thanks in part to help from two local legislators.

Rep. E. Bradford “Brad” Bennett, D-Dover South, and Sen. Brian J. Bushweller, D-Dover, have contributed money from their Community Transportation Funds to help pay for the cleanup of a section of the Puncheon Run, a stream that runs along Dover’s south side and through neighborhoods such as Crossgates, Woodbrook and Sherwood Park II. The stream is a tributary of the St. Jones River.

“Residents should not have their backyards turned into marshes and face flooding every time it rains,” Rep. Bennett said. “I grew up in Woodbrook and this has been an issue my entire life. It has been years since the ditch has been cleared out, and I hope that cleaning up this section of the stream will go a long way to solving some of the flooding issues residents have faced. I also want to thank Sen. Bushweller and Kent Conservation District for their help on this project.”

Cleanup of debris and brush along a stretch of the Puncheon Run between South Governors Avenue and U.S. 13 began on last December 7. Work was conducted by the Kent Conservation District and was estimated to cost a maximum of $4,800.

“It is important that we continue efforts to reduce the flooding in the Woodbrook neighborhood and the other neighborhoods along the Puncheon Run,” Sen. Bushweller said. “Previously, Rep. Bennett and I encouraged DelDOT to clean out the culverts running under Route 13. That helped some but we’re hoping the clean out of the section between Governors Avenue and Route 13 will make a more significant difference.”

Longtime residents of the affected neighborhoods have said that the problem has gotten worse over the years, leaving standing water that creates a mosquito breeding ground, while other homeowners have had to cut down trees because the soil around the roots has eroded, making them susceptible to toppling over.

“As a resident of the Puncheon Run area, I very much appreciate the financial support provided by Sen. Bushweller and Rep. Bennett so that the Kent Conservation District can clean out the vegetative overgrowth and other obstructions which are impeding the flow of the water and contributing to the flooding,” said Dover City Councilman Eugene B. Ruane, who lives in Crossgates.

A 30-year resident of Lynnhaven Drive, Robert Sadusky has seen his backyard flood numerous times through the years, and the problem continues to get worse.

“At one time, it took three to five inches of rain to flood (the stream). Now, if we get even one inch, my yard gets flooded,” Mr. Sadusky said. “I’m glad the legislators are coming out and doing something about this problem. They’re doing exactly what they said they would and help fix this.”

Kent Conservation District sediment and stormwater manager Jared C. Adkins said the project is one part of the process of improving stream flow along the Puncheon Run. Earlier in 2009, the state Department of Transportation completed work on a new South Governors Avenue bridge over the stream. The old crossing had two small openings that had become covered by silt, helping to create a bottleneck that exacerbated the flooding woes. The new span is designed to alleviate that problem.

“The debris and brush along the Puncheon Run constricts the flow of the stream,” Mr. Adkins said. “It’s not the sole problem – this is one of a couple projects along the Puncheon Run. This is one piece of an ongoing process to address the flooding. Together, the projects should provide some much-needed relief for residents.”