John Earl Drain

The John Earl Drain is a 5.6-mile-long county drain that runs through the City of Grand Ledge and Oneida Charter Township, servicing 7,400 acres of land. It includes open and enclosed drains that traverse through agricultural, residential, commercial zones and beneath major roadways to provide a primary outlet for storm water on its way to the Grand River.

Not all of the storm water, however, was getting into the John Earl Drain fast enough. Flooding issues were present and in 2016 residents brought a petition forward to the Eaton County Drain Commissioner for an improvement project on the Drain. Hundreds of minor to moderate obstructions were observed along the Drain. These included undersized and aging culvert crossings, collapsed clay pipe, sediment-heavy open-channel drain sections, undersized drainage swales, and major erosion issues.

An improvement project was found necessary. To improve the flow, multiple solutions were utilized along the Drain. Existing areas of open channel were improved, storm sewer was replaced, major areas of erosion were repaired, new open and enclosed drains were constructed, and a variety of cross culverts along the Drain were replaced.

The lower end of the Drain received maintenance type work to remove deadfall and debris that had accumulated in the channel. This project set up a very large drainage system to function effectively and allow the Eaton County Drain Commissioner to maintain the system easily.