AMT344-Rogue Government Agency attempted to flood out access to tiny Farming Community - As A Man Thinketh

In the name of wetlands regulation, would the government punish a rural town of 56 people for draining water off a road to ensure ambulance and fire truck access for its residents?
In 2023, after snowmelt flooded a gravel road in Northland Township, North Dakota, supervisor Mike Thoreson cut a ditch and drained several feet of high water from the surrounding wetland, easing pressure on several isolated families, including an elderly couple.
Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) responded: Fill it in or face penalties.
In the 1960s, FWS purchased easements to protect Prairie Pothole wetlands—including those inside Ransom County. “Farmers sold those easements, but were told they could continue normal farming operations,” McCoy notes. “Also, the existing rights of way for roads took precedent over the easements. There’s been consistent confusion ever since over what even counts as a wetland. The easement standard was to not unreasonably interfere in drainage.”
Headquartered 1,400 miles east of Northland Township in Washington, D.C., FWS significantly expanded control of Prairie Pothole acreage via a new rule in 2023: National Wildlife Refuge System; Drain Tile Setbacks. In a nutshell: Big or small, any amount of drainage was a major violation.
Join this channel and support our efforts:

Categories: Lifestyle

Starring: Charlie and Shuana Rankin