Please direct all questions and comments to Dr. Christian De Kimpe Drain maintenance Surface drainage Drainage ditches can be kept in good working condition with proper care and regular maintenance. A ditch allowed to become obstructed with weed growth, bushes, and sediment will not provide good drainage. Uncontrolled growth of vegetation and yearly accumulations of dead plant material promotes the deposit of silt. When cleaning operations are under way, silt barriers, such as straw bales or silt fences, prevent sediment from entering natural water courses. If the channel is habitat for fish, proper notification or approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada or provincial environmental agencies is needed before commencing maintenance.
Excavators equipped with special ditch-cleaning buckets are a preferred way to clean ditches.
Drainage outlets are clearly marked out before cleaning operations begin to avoid destroying subsurface drain outlets. Cleaning ditches from only one side leaves vegetation on the undisturbed side, helping to control erosion. Most species of fish require cold freshwater to survive. Leaving vegetation in place or planting it on the south bank of drainage channels provides shade and maintains cool water temperature while leaving the north side clear for maintenance operations. Overall, a properly installed subsurface drainage system needs little maintenance.