MISSION
STATEMENT

The Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District provides leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, maintain and improve the natural resources and environment in Lorain County.

 

Agricultural Center
42110 Russia Road
Elyria, OH 44035-6813
Phone: 440.326.5800
FAX: 440.326.5807


Drainage Program



Status:
This program has not been funded for 2009.
The content of this page is for informational purposes only.


Administered by:
Lorain Soil and Water Conservation District


In cooperation with:
Lorain County Engineer


This program is strictly a voluntary landowner agreement. All landowners must agree for the project to move forward.

Most projects begin with a landowner or township trustee with a drainage concern contacting our office. Listed below are the procedures for the drainage program.

  1. Group Request — Water Management Improvement
    This application is the first step in the process of having a drainage ditch cleaned and placed on a permanent maintenance program. Usually the individual that contacts our office concerning drainage is the one that handles this Group Request. To initiate this process, all landowners on the ditch must sign the request form and return it to Lorain SWCD office.
     

    [Photo: Construction at Schroeder Ditch Project
    Phase II – Carlisle and New
    Russia Townships 8/07 ]
  2. Preliminary Study — Lorain SWCD will do a preliminary study of the ditch to determine if the scope of the project is feasible to move forward for approval. Example: Soils / maps for ditch; the watershed capacity; finding a definable start and stopping point; a good stream outlet; and preliminary survey study.
     
  3. Board Approval — Lorain SWCD Board of Supervisors, under the recommendation of the District Administrator, will approve or disapprove the project in the best interest of the District and the landowners of Lorain County. The Board will not approve projects in bits and pieces. Drainage projects generally take 3 years to complete once the Group Request is approved.
     
  4. Individual Agreements and Landowners Meeting — All landowners on the project must sign this form for the Drainage Project to move forward. The Individual Agreement allows construction to move across the landowner’s property. This agreement is a legal agreement requiring a notary signature and stamp. A temporary construction path of 50 feet will be needed for construction equipment clearing and or cleaning the ditch.
    1. Easement: A 20-foot easement will be attached to the landowner’s deed. This easement is measured perpendicular to and along the top of the ditch bank; a grassed access path for ditch improvements and maintenance will be provided and maintained by the Lorain County Engineer.
    2. Assessment Fees: The landowner agrees to the performance of the improvements and maintenance with the understanding that there will be no charge for the initial improvement of first year’s maintenance, but thereafter the ditch will be placed under a maintenance program at a cost to the owner(s) per parcel of $30.00 a year for parcels 10 acres or less and $3.00 per acre for agricultural parcels larger than 10 acres, or as otherwise allowed pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code.

     

    [Photo: Lindsley Ditch Project –
    Wellington Twp. 7/06]
  5. Survey and Design — A complete survey and design of the ditch project will be done by the Lorain SWCD technical staff and in cooperation with the Lorain County Engineer.
     
  6. Bidding Project — Lorain SWCD will provide:
    Bid Preparation
    Bid Opening
    Award of Bid

  7. Construction Meeting — This is a public meeting for the landowners on the ditch project, held by Lorain SWCD, 42110 Russia Road, Elyria, Ohio 44035, in the evening. All landowners will be notified of meeting by certified mail. There will be discussion of construction, start and completion date of project.
     
  8. Construction — Lorain SWCD working with contractor, Lorain County Engineer and following the Scope of Work.
     

  9. [Photo: Signs installed after each project.]
    Final Inspection and Certification — Lorain SWCD and Lorain County Engineer will inspect, survey and certify the project is complete and conforms to contract and plans.
     
  10. Seeding — Lorain SWCD seeds project.
     
  11. Project Placed on Maintenance — Lorain SWCD turns project over to Lorain County Engineer for maintenance. County accepts the project.
     

For additional information, see Ohio's Drainage Laws.

For further assistance, please call the District office.




 

 
September 3, 2010