Foster County board approves subsurface water management permit with conditions

The Foster County Water Resource Board on April 8 approved Subsurface Water Management System Permit No. 2026-0002 for applicant Brandon Gussiaas with multiple conditions intended to protect downstream flow paths and local drainage infrastructure.

Board member Doug Zink moved to approve the permit with conditions; Ronn Stangeland seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to carry it. The conditions require: (1) installation and maintenance of proper erosion control at all outlets; (2) re-establishment of disturbed areas to their prior condition; (3) obtaining an amendment to the permit for any alterations to outlet locations, new outlets, or improvements resulting in the drainage of additional acres; and (4) ensuring a grade from the outlet lift pump to Foster County Assessment Drain No. 1 so flow direction follows the Flow Direction map submitted with the application. The permittee bears responsibility for securing any permission from a road authority and underlying landowner if grading within a right-of-way is needed to meet the grade requirement.

The board directed Rinke Noonan to send the notice of decision to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and to Brandon Gussiaas. The action follows the board’s routine review of permit technical requirements and is intended to ensure outlet construction does not alter established drainage patterns or cause erosion that would affect Assessment Drain No. 1.

The board’s approval includes a directive that the permittee must obtain a permit amendment before making changes that would alter outlet locations or increase drained acres; failure to seek required amendments would place the permittee out of compliance. No vote tallies beyond unanimous approval were recorded in the minutes. The board will reconvene on May 13, 2026.