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Blue Earth County approves engineer’s plan for County Ditch 56 Branch 3; orders plans and bidding
Summary
The county board accepted an engineer's advisory report and approved final plans and public bidding for repairs and a reroute on County Ditch 56 Branch 3 after a multi-year study and a petition from Minnesota Valley Lands LLC and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Blue Earth County Commissioners on March 25 approved an engineer's advisory report and ordered final plans and public bidding to impound, reroute and repair portions of County Ditch 56 Branch 3.
The work follows a petition filed on Nov. 25, 2024, by Minnesota Valley Lands LLC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. County drainage coordinator Ryan Henrick presented jurisdictional documents and said the engineer's report was submitted March 13, 2025, and the drainage authority had scheduled the final hearing for March 25.
Jacob Mueller and Chuck Brando of ISG summarized the report and recommended the reroute-and-repair option developed after roughly a dozen alternatives and years of meetings with landowners and public agencies. Mueller said the proposed reroute keeps the system's existing drainage capacity while shortening tile runs that currently pass through public lands and private property, and "results in about $300,000 of cost savings" compared with a standard repair option.
Mueller and Brando told commissioners the watershed is very flat, about 9,400 acres, and that televising in 2021 showed failing tile sections and sediment issues affecting downstream Lake Crystal. The petition package includes easement agreements for the new alignments and a multipurpose drainage management study that highlights potential wetland restorations and other best management practices to reduce sediment loads.
After no public comment at the hearing, the board moved, seconded and voted to adopt the engineer's findings and order, direct ISG to prepare construction plans and specifications suitable for bidding, and proceed toward public advertising and construction.
The board and ISG said some construction could occur this year if schedules and easement staking proceed, but timing depends on final plans and bidding results.
Commissioners and ISG staff emphasized that the approved design seeks to match existing capacity (about 0.21 inch per day drainage coefficient) rather than enlarge drainage capacity, and that some downstream repairs were deferred because televising showed better-than-expected conditions in the outlet segment.
The board closed the hearing and ordered that plans be prepared for public bidding.
Ending: The engineer was directed to move forward with plans and specifications for bid. The board recorded no roll-call vote in the transcript; the chair called for the ayes and declared the motion carried.
