Wood-Land-Lakes brought a
group of people together to explore natural resources and drainage issues in
the area. Under our guidance, the group formed into a Drainage
Committee which identified concerns and worked together to come up with
potential solutions. Priorities included water quality, who controls the water,
failing drainage systems that need outlets, lack of understanding of
drainage laws, and responsibilities vs. conservation objectives. The
Drainage Committee planned a follow-up conference to the
The Drain Game conference. This workshop drew a crowd of more than 100 people, looking for answers on
issues such as who is responsible for controlling drainage, and what innovative projects
are being developed. The
audience included contractors, county surveyors, environmental groups,
farmers, landowners, local and state agencies. Participants commented how great it was that this type of workshop was
being offered, as people were “hungry” for this information.
Participants in the workshop completed surveys listing innovative drain
maintenance practices, case studies on successes and failures,
environmentally friendly alternatives, and funding opportunities as topics
for future workshops. Other suggestions included legal responsibilities, roles
and responsibilities of private and public entities, and incorporating planning
and zoning into dealing with drainage issues. The Drainage Committee
reviewed evaluations to decide the next step.
At the present time, the Drainage Planning Committee is putting these activities on hold
until more funding resources become available. We will post any new meetings or
workshops on our calendar. |
