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Scott County green-lights $20,000 critical-obstruction work on County Ditch 13 ahead of expected watershed transfer
Summary
County staff narrowed maintenance on County Ditch 13 to "critical obstruction" work and recommended using an existing county maintenance fund to pay an estimated $20,000 cost while the Prior Lake–Spring Lake Watershed District completes a pending transfer, expected in three to four months.
Chris, a presenter to the ditch board, told commissioners the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District inspected County Ditch 13 after a landowner complaint and found obstructions and sediment accumulation that need targeted work. “I’m here today to talk about county ditch 13 and some proposed maintenance,” Chris said, describing an abbreviated scope focused on removing in-channel trees, clearing obstructions, spot cleaning, and seeding and mulching disturbed areas.
The presenter said an earlier, larger estimate was pared back to about $20,000 after Prior Lake–Spring Lake Watershed District officials asked the county to limit work this year to what they called “critical obstruction maintenance.” The proposed work would also include removing riprap at the 190th Street culvert inlet to assess whether the culvert is contributing to back-up reported by a property owner.
Board members pressed staff on the timing of an anticipated jurisdictional transfer. One commissioner asked whether the watershed district remains on track; staff replied that the watershed’s engineer and attorney are conducting due diligence and that the transfer is “about three to four months away,” with county counsel coordinating with the watershed’s attorney.
Staff told the board the county will not bill individual landowners for the maintenance. Instead, funds would come from an existing county maintenance fund established earlier this year through a lien to increase maintenance reserves; any expenditures will reduce the amount later transferred to the watershed district when jurisdiction changes.
The ditch board then moved to adopt resolution 2026-127 related to this item, the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. After the vote the ditch board adjourned.
What happens next: staff will move forward with contracting the narrowed scope of obstruction work, and county and watershed attorneys will continue to coordinate the potential transfer. The watershed district’s due diligence and the county’s contracting process are the next procedural steps to watch.
