Ongoing drought conditions are impacting our Fall 2026 road grading schedule. Due to limited local water access, the Road and Bridge Department is adjusting operations to focus on essential repairs.
Why Is the Schedule Changing?
Proper gravel road grading and compaction require 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water per mile. Because several of our standard construction water sources are unavailable this fall, crews must haul water from greater distances, which limits the number of road miles we can grade each day.
Preservation Strategy
To ensure we make the best use of county resources, crews are inspecting roads individually and will be holding off on grading surfaces currently in "fair or better condition."
Disturbing a stable, hard-packed road without sufficient moisture can do more harm than good. While dry grading provides a brief improvement in smoothness, the surface breaks down rapidly, quickly leaving the road in worse condition than before we started.
Definition of a Road in "fair condition" (and skipped this cycle):
- Intact structure: Holds its overall shape well, despite some rough areas.
- Hard surface: Packed firm with minimal loose gravel.
- Low dust: Dust levels remain manageable.
Ongoing Inspections & Schedule Updates
Road inspections will continue throughout the fall season. Because field conditions change and operational constraints shift, the list of deferred roads will remain dynamic. Roads that are initially deferred may be added back to the active grading schedule as time and resources allow.
We appreciate your patience as our teams manage these seasonal water constraints to deliver durable, long-lasting road surfaces across the county.
