Ditch & Drainage System
St. Louis County ditches are regulated by the Drainage Authority, which is composed of the County Board of Commissioners. The Drainage Authority is responsible to maintain or improve the county drainage system as needed. Ditches are regulated by Minnesota Statute 103E.
St. Louis County has 500-plus miles of open ditches, consisting of 17 total drainage systems, 10 County Ditches, 5 Judicial Ditches, and 2 State Ditches.
The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners serves as the Drainage Authority, having jurisdiction over a system or project.
- The Drainage Authority is obligated to repair and maintain all systems, but cannot advocate for or against improvements, abandonments, or additions. These must be initiated by landowners.
News & Upcoming Meetings
St. Louis County is currently undergoing three statutorily mandated processes for repair of County Ditch #4 (CD4). The last public hearing regarding the redetermination of benefits and damages for CD4 was held on Tuesday, February 7th, 2023, at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth.
For more information about CD4, click here.
County Ditch #4 Website
Contact
Matthew Beyer
St. Louis County Public Works Department
218-625-3859
beyerm@stlouiscountymn.gov
Drainage Authority Agendas & Minutes