Ditch board accepts petition, schedules public hearing for iron-enhanced filter on County Ditch 13

The Scott County Ditch Board on May 6 accepted a petition from the Spring Lake–Prior Lake Watershed District and set a public hearing for June 3 on a proposed iron-enhanced sand filter to reduce phosphorus in water flowing from Swamp Lake into County Ditch 13.

A county staff presenter identified as Chris described the plan: the watershed district proposes to build a berm near Swamp Lake to divert some ditch flow into a sand filter (an iron-enhanced treatment cell) that would remove phosphorus before returning treated water to County Ditch 13. The filter will sit on private property where the watershed district has obtained a construction easement and a long-term maintenance easement.

Funding: The watershed district received a Clean Water Fund grant to cover project costs; any expenses beyond the grant amount will be covered by the watershed district.

Board action: The ditch board accepted the petition and appointed engineer Kyle Crawford of Emmons & Olivier Resources to prepare the required report for the project and to present findings at the scheduled public hearing. The board formally adopted resolution number 2020Five-one32 accepting the petition and later adopted resolution 2025-133 (as listed in the ditch packet language) to set a public hearing for June 3 at 8:00 a.m. in the county boardroom.

Discussion vs. decision: Acceptance of the petition and setting the hearing are procedural steps; no final project authorization or assessment decision was made pending the engineer’s report and the June 3 hearing.

Next steps: The appointed engineer will prepare a report of findings, notice will be sent to affected landowners along Branch 2A, and the board will hold the public hearing on June 3 to receive evidence and public comment before making a final determination.