Clinton County Drain Commissioner

Vegetative Brush Control Policy

Public Act 40 of 1956, as amended (the Drain Code) provides for periodic inspections of county drains. Adequate access to drain right of ways by personnel and equipment is necessary for inspection and maintenance purposes. Once a maintenance or improvement project is performed on a drain that involves the added expense of clearing trees and brush from the drain channel and right-of-way, the drain will be inspected periodically to check for re-growth of trees and brush.

It shall be the policy of the Clinton County Drain Commissioner to manage the growth of trees and brush within drain channels and rights-of-way. Herbicide applications are a cost effective way to manage vegetation to reduce future maintenance costs. Periodically, drains are evaluated to check for growth of trees and brush that can obstruct the flow of water and block access to the right-of-way. If appropriate, herbicide application is scheduled. Licensed applicators will use low-volume methods for brush management. The owners of land on which herbicide application is scheduled are notified by first class mail. Should the owner object to the application, it is the owner's responsibility to notify this office and make other arrangements for another method of brush control acceptable to the Drain Commissioner at the owner's expense.

Each year, the office is provided a list of organic farms in Clinton County. Herbicide applications are not performed on these farms. The owners are responsible for managing trees and brush on their property.

The following are drains scheduled for spraying this spring: