Ditch Maintenance
History: In the past, agriculture was more prevalent than it is today in the Northeast. Large scale farms, as well as family gardens, necessitated the routine maintenance of streams, brooks, and ditches. With the decline of agriculture and the family farm, ditch maintenance declined resulting in a diminished flow capacity due to an accumulation of silt, debris, and other blockages. Sand spread on roadways during the winter months is a serious problem, as most of this sand is washed into roadside ditches.
Wetlands regulations make it difficult, if not impossible,
for municipalities to maintain these waterways. Increased development has
dramatically increased discharge into these waterways, which are unable to meet
the demand. The continued maintenance of these waterways is important in
managing mosquito populations and flood mitigation.
Notification: The District operates under the authority of Ch 252 of the GLC and as such has broad authority to operate in wetland environments by exemptions legislatively mandated by Ch 131, The Wetlands Protect Act. The Department of Environmental Protection and local conservation commissions are prohibited form any action relative to activity conducted under the authority of Ch 252. However, as a courtesy and in the spirit of cooperation they are notified in advance of ditch maintenance projects and their specific concerns are addressed. The District conducts ditch maintenance projects in compliance with the ditch maintenance exemptions provided in section 404 of the Clean Waters Act. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is also notified in advanced of projects. Property owners and abutters to ditch maintenance projects are notified and their concerns are addressed.
Ditch Maintenance: All ditch maintenance projects are done in accordance with the District's Standards for Ditch Maintenance. Ditch maintenance is accomplished by highly specialized, environmentally sensitive, low ground pressure equipment.
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