The purpose of this notification is to share that the Department of Development & Storm Water Management has scheduled a vegetation management project for county-maintained open drains (i.e., ditches). All of the work associated with the vegetation management project will be performed entirely within the regulated drainage easements, which extends 75 feet from the top of bank on each side of such county-maintained open drain.
The vegetation management project, which is part of the Department’s Regulated Drainage Infrastructure Inspection & Maintenance Program, will start in May 2025 and will continue into June 2025. The project includes work on approximately 54 miles of open drains (i.e., ditches) located north of Division Rd. In general, the purpose of this work is to control and manage invasive and undesirable vegetation and to promote the growth of native and desirable vegetation along the subject ditches. The work includes the chemical treatment of targeted invasive and undesirable shrubs, bushes, saplings, and other woody vegetation with a diameter less than 6 in. at breast height; and, the chemical treatment of targeted invasive and undesirable herbaceous vegetation on the banks and overbanks of the subject ditches. The limits of such work will be confined to those areas located within 25 feet of the top of bank, on both sides of the ditch, along the subject ditches. Ditch banks and overbanks adjacent to residential areas and specialty commercial crops, either previously known to the Department or registered with the Driftwatch specialty crop registry (www.in.driftwatch.org/map), along the subject ditches are to be excluded from the work. Please contact us immediately if you have designated no-spray zones located on your property that are not currently registered with Driftwatch.
Utilizing the subject regulated drains for irrigation shall be done at the sole discretion of the property owner. All risk and responsibility shall be assumed by the property owner for potential crop damage caused by utilizing the subject regulated drains for irrigation. If you have any structures or appurtenances, including sheds, fences, children’s play sets, decorative landscaping, or other item, located within 25 feet of the top of the bank along a County maintained open drain (i.e., ditch) in the project area defined, please remove them from the regulated drainage easement before the start of the project. If you lease your property, please notify your tenant to make them aware of this project. The project is expected to start in mid-May 2025.
Please contact Robert Goodman at (219) 510-1152 or Robert.Goodman@porterco.org if you have additional questions or concerns. The map of the areas to be sprayed can be viewed here: 2025 Ditch Spraying List - Area III