Patterson Field had 4 to 6 inches of water on the turf as of Thursday afternoon. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Patterson Field’s 2022 renovations faced their first flooding test on Thursday as the Ohio River waters raised to moderate flood stage levels.

As of Thursday afternoon, the field had 4 to 6 inches of water on it, according to East Liverpool schools Superintendent Jonathan Ludwig. That water, however, was not from the river. The two-way valve designed to prevent backflow was closed at 1 p.m. Wednesday and what water that was on the artificial turf field was runoff.

Ludwig and athletic director Jason Duke said the two-way valve worked as designed and kept the river from damaging the field.

“We don’t see any displacement in the turf right now,” Ludwig said. “The entire field is a drainage basin and it did its job.”

Ludwig said head fields custodian Eric McMahon was in charge of timing of the valve shut-off and that he had been very diligent in following the weather pattern since last week. Ludwig said the district monitors the official National Weather Service Hydraulic Prediction Service flood gauges at East Liverpool and Wellsville along the Ohio River.

The Ohio River was predicted to crest at 16.5 feet at East Liverpool and 14.6 feet at Wellsville on Thursday evening. Both of those readings are well within the moderate flooding ranges for those areas.

Ludwig said once the Ohio River recedes the reopening of the two-way valve should allow the runoff on the field to drain quickly into the river.

“I know the crest has been delayed a bit,” Ludwig said. “We were looking at 3 p.m. (Friday), but that may turn into 9 or 10 p.m.”

All power at the stadium site was shut off on Wednesday as a precaution. That meant the weight room at the stadium was also closed and will remain so for a few more days. There is no flooding in the weight room.

“Everything we were able to control has been controlled,” Ludwig said. “We are fairly confident that when we drain it, it’s going to be ok. Maybe we’re looking at some displaced rubber and sand. It doesn’t look bad right now.”

Ludwig said the school district will get a better assessment of what the flooding did to the field on Saturday. He said the district has been in contact with the field turf company to see what will be needed. Ludwig said during the planning process for the field renovations, several flooding scenarios were reviewed by the company and the district.

“I mean it happens all the time,” Ludwig said. “I know I talked to them as we were building and went through different scenarios that they’ve had to cover. And as a result, we used a heavier inlay because we wouldn’t want the pellets to move.”

Patterson Field wasn’t the only stadium along the Ohio River to flood during the aftermath of the week’s heavy rains. Wheeling Island Stadium and Bellaire Big Reds Stadium were also flooded further down stream.

“Those two were flooded by river water and not collection water,” Ludwig said. “That’s a big difference.”

Thursday’s flooding was by no means in comparison to some of the past instances of flooding trouble at the stadium.

In September of 2004, following heavy rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan, the bowl of Patterson Field was flooded causing $350,000 damage to the facility. It also caused the Potters to play three home games at Wellsville’s Nicholson Stadium.

“When the field flooded in 2004, that valve was stuck in the open position,” Duke said. “We had the runoff and the river back up then.”

Ludwig said user error also contributed to that flood damage in 2004.

The 2022 renovation of the stadium included a back flow device, two trenches underneath the field and the addition of a two-way extension valve to help with possible flooding issues.

The district has flood insurance and had studies done by JTSA Sports Architecture and Design out of Burgettstown, Pa., regarding the flood mitigation plan.