2017

Authority over Roadside Drainage Drainage Responsibility Michigan Drain Code The Michigan Drain Code Roadside , swales, in the county right-of- (Public Act 40 of 1956, as storm sewers, , or way and maintained by the amended) defines and other similar drainage Road Commission or, in governs the responsibilities features are installed to some instances, the Water of the Water Resources convey storm water from the Resources Commissioner. Commissioner. road surface and roadbed to    an outlet, such as a pond, Importantly, the primary county drain, creek, role of roadside drainage is infiltration area, or other to drain the road, not Establishing a County adjacent private property, waterway. Drain unless the roadside drainage These roadside drainage system has been established County Drains are systems are typically located as a County Drain. established in one of two ways:

1. Through a petition process whereby property Roadside Drainage = Road Commission owners or a local unit of Established County Drains = Water Resources Commissioner government asks the Water Private Property and Driveway Culverts = Property Owner Resources Commissioner to

establish a County Drain. Roadside Drainage Overview 2. A property owner Maintaining Proper Drainage may construct a drainage system at the owner’s A proper roadside drainage Throughout the year, the expense and transfer system helps reduce damage Road Commission and authority for the operation from water to both the road Water Resources and maintenance of the surface and the underlying Commissioner are system to the Water layers of the roadbed. committed to maintaining Resources Commissioner their respective roadside through a Dedication Deed Flooding, washouts, and drainage systems to improve and Agreement (also potholes coincide with poor poor drainage within and known as a 433 Agreement). drainage, which typically alongside roadways. • • • results in costly repairs.

Maintenance Funding Design Techniques Water Quality

Who pays for Overview The Road Commission, Drain maintenance? Commissioner, Townships, A roadside drainage system and Cities/Villages are active is typically designed based The cost to maintain roadside participants in local watershed on upstream drainage area, drainage systems that are not groups, such as the Macatawa historic drainage patterns, County Drains is typically the River and Lower Grand River. available right-of-way or responsibility of the Road New drainage projects easement, desired typically include water quality Commission. conveyance, and features. County Drain maintenance is levels to ensure adequate    typically paid by all of the drainage, ease of “owners” within the drainage maintenance, protection of Roadside Safety water quality, and public district. These owners include Ditches or swales are an all the parcels of land that safety. integral feature of roadside receives a drainage area drainage systems critical for benefit, the Township and A roadside drainage system controlling road storm water City/Village for public health must satisfy two main runoff. Where the right-of-way benefits, and MDOT, the Road criteria if it is to be effective is limited, ditches with deeper Commission, and County for throughout its design life: and sharper slopes are used. road drainage benefits. 1. Minimize disturbance of These features can be of In some cases, the Road natural drainage concern if a motorist leaves the Commission, County, Water patterns. roadway. Solutions, such as Resources Commissioner, storm sewer enclosures or guardrail, are considered to Townships, and Cities explore 2. Provide an outlet for protect the traveling public. cost sharing for “at large” surface and subsurface    drainage projects. water.

Understanding the purpose of the Roadside Drainage system for providing effective, environmentally friendly drainage is a first step.

Adjacent property owners should not do the following activities:

 Place any materials in or alongside roadside ditches, including: yard debris such as grass clippings or leaves (burning also compromises drainage), landscaping such as trees or shrubs, or any other items that may impede drainage.  Scrape, excessively mow, or expose bare near or within a roadside drainage system, since such actions can contribute to and sediment pollution.  Fertilize or apply herbicides near a roadside drainage system, since this may pollute the water.

Property owners adjacent to public are encouraged to proactively maintain their driveway culverts or other private drainage system to be clear of debris and obstructions.