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St. Joseph County drainage board tables dewatering permit after farmers and residents raise groundwater and crop‑damage concerns
Summary
The St. Joseph County Drainage Board tabled an extension request for a dewatering permit for work near Strawberry Road after hours of public comment about groundwater drawdown, crop damage and monitoring safeguards; the applicant said monitoring is in place and urged coordination with county bridge projects.
The St. Joseph County Drainage Board voted to table a request to extend a dewatering discharge permit for a utility project at the southwest corner of Western Avenue and Strawberry Road after extensive public comment and technical questions.
The applicant, Patrick Phillips of Walbridge, told the board the extension would maintain the existing maximum discharge rate (listed on the permit application as 1,450,000 gallons per hour) while crews use a combination of vertical and horizontal wells and perimeter piezometers to control dewatering during utility installation. "We have piezometers installed entirely around the site for monitoring," Phillips said, adding the company would monitor both on‑site and adjacent public areas.
Why it matters: Residents and farmers said the proposed discharge risks…
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