County approves interlocal agreement letting South Bend access Morrison Slough parcels to trap beavers, mitigate flooding

The Pacific County Board of County Commissioners on March 25 approved an intergovernmental cooperative agreement with the City of South Bend to allow city crews to access county-owned parcels along Morrison Slough to trap beavers and mitigate drainage problems that contribute to flooding.

Todd (S12), who presented the item, described Morrison Slough as a major drainage corridor on the south edge of South Bend and said the city maintains an intake that discharges to the river near the cannery. "Their concern is that that area is not being maintained, and there's been some beavers in there setting up dams and stuff too," Todd said, noting the interlocal agreement grants the city access to county parcels so it can perform mitigation activities. He added the city must obtain permission from other private landowners in the slough area and that indemnification language was included in the agreement.

The motion passed by voice vote. County staff said the city had reviewed the draft and would act locally after the county approved the item.

Why it matters: Morrison Slough functions as a drainage capacity for the area; unchecked beaver activity and vegetation can worsen drainage during high tides and heavy rainfall. The agreement is intended to allow local operators to address those conditions on county parcels more quickly, subject to landowner permissions and the agreement’s indemnification provisions.

What’s next: The City of South Bend is expected to act on the agreement locally after county approval; work will proceed with any additional permissions required from private landowners in the area.