Note that all of Richmond's ALR lies outside the floodplain exemption boundary and is thus at a higher risk of flooding than the urban areas of the city. Many of Richmond's farms could probably benefit from improved drainage infrastructure. Extensive maintenance is required in order to ensure that Richmond's drainage infrastructure is effective. For instance, ditches must be cleared of weeds and debris, and ditch retaining walls maintained or water may back up into the fields. In addition to these maintenance requirements, there are likely a number of areas in the agricultural lands which could benefit greatly from some capital improvements to drainage infrastructure.
Water management is an ongoing concern for all of Richmond's farmers.
Every fall, Richmond's cranberry producers flood their fields of ripe cranberry bushes. The bushes are then agitated, the berries float to the top, and hired labourers descend on the fields to skim the berries from the surface of the water. Many farmers have installed their own drainage ditches, as well as tile drains in their fields, in order to manage water. These improvements can mitigate flooding and excessive moisture in fields. Yet, the usefulness of these private measures is dependent upon the ability of City-maintained drainage infrastructure in the area to handle sufficient volumes of water.