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SCD approves over $1.1 million in tax ditch funding
September 9, 2024
Most of Sussex County's over 1,200 miles of tax ditches are located in its western and southern areas; this one drains into Red Mill Pond north of Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO
The Sussex Conservation District board of supervisors recently voted to approve the annual tax ditch cost-share program funding, totaling $1.1 million.
“Tax ditches are a critical drainage infrastructure for much of the county, and many ditches date back to the 1950s. Routine maintenance is necessary to ensure they continue to function as designed,” said Joel Wharton, who chairs the SCD board of supervisors. “We are fortunate to have the support of the Delaware General Assembly in recognizing the importance of tax ditches to all Delawareans.”
Sussex County has more than 135 tax ditch organizations that cover an area of over 1,200 miles, providing drainage for 340,000 acres of land. Approximately 60% of Delaware’s tax ditch miles are located in Sussex County, and 42% of the county relies on drainage provided by tax ditches. Tax ditches are a governmental subdivision of the state.
The tax ditch cost-share program received 289 applications totaling over $1.1 million. All applications for mowing, maintaining right-of-way access, and spraying to control woody or invasive vegetation were approved. Maintenance applications, which include dip outs, erosion repair, new pipes, crossings or replacements, tree removal, erosion repair and beaver dam removal were also funded.
Funding for the tax ditch cost-share program is provided by the General Assembly through the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and by Sussex County Council.
To learn more about DNREC’s Tax Ditch Program, visit de.gov/taxditch. To learn more about SCD’s tax ditch cost-share program, go to sussexconservation.org.
