Richfield resident urges city to restore 15 feet of property lost to Cottonwood flood channel

Judy Christiansen told the Richfield City Council on Nov. 11 that maintenance of the Cottonwood flood channel has encroached on roughly 15 feet of her property and damaged fencing and riprap along the ditch.

“All I want is I want my property back,” Christiansen said during the public-comment portion of the meeting, describing repeated maintenance activity over 15–25 years she says has moved the channel and pulled soil onto her land.

Christiansen said the backhoe work has left fence posts and debris on the far side of the ditch, reduced pasture area and left the property line effectively in the bottom of the flood channel. She asked the city to replace the riprap and to restore the bank so she can use the land described in her deed.

City staff and councilors questioned Christiansen and a city surveyor presented measurements, saying the fence sits 7.78 feet from the deeded property line and the top of the ditch lies about 3.96 feet from her fence. The surveyor told the council the property-line stakes would be located in the bottom of the flood ditch if set according to the survey.

Family members who spoke at the meeting argued the loss is the result of maintenance procedures, not natural erosion. “Every time that’s been dug out, we lose 6 feet,” a family member said, urging the council to accept responsibility for repairs.

Council members and staff committed to inspect the site. The council moved to continue the item to the next scheduled meeting so the requester and additional staff could be present; the motion carried.

Next steps: staff said they will visit the site, review the Jones & DeMille survey already performed and return with recommendations at the following meeting.