If high ground water and persistent flooding is impacting my property and my neighbors property, we all have a vested interest in fixing the problem.
Maybe fixing it is only worth $400 to one neighbor, $800 to another, and $1200 to me. (yes, wouldn't be using dollars but humor me).
Either we can work with the resources we have, can't do it, or need a different solution.
I'd rather work it out with my neighbors than have the State steal from me and never fix it anyway.