To the farmer managing excess water through drainage is essential for similar reasons – to protect an investment, provide security, to take care of what you own and to do so responsibly, to be a good neighbour etc. Beyond that drainage is critical to access fields in a timely manner, reduce crop damage and stress, protect and improve soil health, reduce nutrient overlap, promote uptake of nutrients by the crop and to overall enhance crop production and yield.
Surface channels direct water to appropriate / adequate outlets, tile drainage ties into surface channels, grassed waterways and rocks provide erosion control, appropriately sized culverts provide flow control and gated culverts provide an additional level of flow control in high risk areas.