Motamassek Ditch Clearing
The Motamassek Ditch is a critical element of drainage infrastructure that provides flood relief to portions of Orange and Lake Counties, which lie within the John's Lake Drainage Basin. Additionally, it provides conveyance for stormwater flows generated from State Road 91 (Turnpike), S.R. 50 and S.R. 438, as well as residential and commercial areas within the Town of Oakland and the City of Winter Garden. The Town and Orange County acknowledged that neither party directly owned any of the lands through which the Motamassek Ditch passes, nor had an obligation to provide for operation and maintenance of this ditch. However, both agreed that a public need exists for maintenance of the ditch, as its current state was severely overgrown, which hindered its efficacy. Clearing the ditch required specialized equipment and experienced operators, something the Town neither had nor could afford. The Public Works Department sought an interlocal agreement with Orange County to assist in addressing the maintenance requirements of the ditch. Over the course of a month Orange County worked diligently to clear the ditch and the difference was night and day.