In planning the construction of this canal, the high water marks of the freshet of January 8, 1828, to that time the greatest flood in the known history of this part of the state, were used as guides in obviating, as well as could be done, the damages of anticipated floods. But in June 1858, all the streams in the area attained a flood stage that far surpassed that of 1828. The Wabash river exceeding the earlier by 2 feet.
Indiana Magazine of History Vol. XXV. Dec. 1934 #4 - The W&E at Lafayette

According to specifications, a sixty foot swath had to be grubbed out all along the line. The channel was to be forty feet wide at the top, twenty-six at the bottom, four feet deep, banks two feet above the water line, the towpath covered with gravel.
Indiana Canals. Paul Fatout. Purdue University Press 1972

In all places where natural surface of the earth is above the bottom of the canal and where the line requires excavation, all trees, saplings, bushes, stumps, and roots shall be grubbed and dug up at least 64 feet wide, this is 34 feet wide on the towing path side of the center and 30 feet wide on the opposite side of the canter, together with all logs, wood, and brush of every description shall be removed at least 20 feet beyond the outward line of said grubbing.

All trees, saplings, bushes and stumps shall be cut down close to the ground so that no part of any of them shall be left more than 1 foot in height above the natural surface of the earth, and shall also, together with all logs, brush and wood of every kind, be removed entirely from said space. And the trees, saplings, and bushes also shall be cut 15 feet wide on each side of said space to be cleared and all trees which in falling will be able to break into the banks of the canal and whole situation of line may require grubbing, low chopping clearing shall be extended in breadth so far that no uncleared land may be occupied with embankment or excavation.
Canal clearing specifications. V.F.Van Buskirk. Wabash County Historical Society