The Bull Ditch was constructed by a cooperative to stop the town of Maxwell from flooding -NOT to "Run through the Village".
The Bull Ditch was built to divert the swampy area west of Maxwell, stopping the flooding, keeping the water west of Maxwell, sending the water straight south, down the Bull Ditch to the Platte River. Restore the Bull Ditch!
The Bull Ditch starts north of Hwy 30 west of town where natural springs, rain and spring thaws bring down water from the Sandhills. It should then run straight south to Platte River, bypassing Maxwell.
It was a huge undertaking to construct the Bull Ditch using 48 Oxen teams and many men on foot.
Can't Lincoln County bring out some heavy machinery, a few men can sit in a heated / air conditioned cab and restore the ditch by just pulling a few levers?
According to Nebraska Law, Nebraska Code, Nebraska Chapter 31 — Drainage
Section 31-101 Ditches; drains; watercourses; county board; powers.
The county board of any county may, at any regular or special session, cause to be located and constructed, straightened, widened, altered, or deepened, any ditch, drain or watercourse, as hereinafter provided, when the same is necessary to drain any lots, lands, public or corporate road, or railroad, and will be conducive to the public health, convenience or welfare.
Chapter 31 — Drainage - Section 31-202.01 Watercourses; obstructions; power of county board.
In all counties the county board shall have the power to cause all natural watercourses to be kept clean and free of obstructions.
The Bull Ditch was constructed by a cooperative to stop the town of Maxwell from flooding. As such it would have been required to have an easement - not a problem to the landowners.
Hewgley said that it is unclear what more the county can do considering the complexities of who is responsible for maintaining the ditch." According to the law Lincoln County is responsible:
Chapter 31 — Drainage - Section 31-932
Drainage district; dissolution; right-of-way interest becomes property of county.
Upon dissolution of any drainage district, the right-of-way interest of such drainage district shall pass to and become the property of the county where located.
The ditch was not built to send the water back UP HILL into the Sandhills as board member, Hewgley stated. My family was here when it was built. The grade was true. It has been neglected and forgotten for so many years that it has filled in and been diverted with another ditch, concrete, railroad ties, silt, Phragmite and other noxious weeds.
The Bull Ditch's main purpose was to save Maxwell from flooding. The problem was solved back then when the ditch was constructed. Which anyone could figure out sent the water DOWN HILL TO THE RIVER! Otherwise the river would have been backed up into the village of Maxwell. We don't need it to be surveyed. We need it RESTORED! They surveyed it when the ditch was being planned. The Union Pacific Railroad had surveyors then - where they not competent then?
Chapter 31 — Drainage - Section 31-202.01 Watercourses; obstructions; power of county board.
In all counties the county board shall have the power to cause all natural watercourses to be kept clean and free of obstructions.
We do appreciate Mark Young's article that brings attention to Maxwell's flooding plight.
For More information please visit my Maxwell Drainage pages:
http://www.geocities.com/maxwellnebraska/inde...
http://www.geocities.com/maxwellnebraska/Maki...
http://www.geocities.com/maxwellnebraska/Bull...
http://www.geocities.com/maxwellnebraska/Aeri...

On my Aerial Photographs page it shows aerial photographs over the years showing the deterioration of the Bull Ditch and Maxwell area drainage.
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