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Guide to Community Planning in Wisconsin by Brian W. Ohm | Chapter 11: Agriculture |
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Guide to Community Planning in Wisconsin by Brian W. Ohm | Chapter 11: Agriculture |
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2.3 Drainage Districts
The drainage district program oversees the systematic drainage of lands for agricultural practices. (
23) Nearly one third of Wisconsin’s 79,000 farms use drains to remove excess water from the land, primarily through small-scale drains. These drains are organized into drainage districts. Primary responsibility for planning for and administering drainage districts resides with the county drainage board. The board also resolves drainage disputes among landowners. Twenty-five counties have drainage boards thus far, with jurisdiction over about 160 drainage districts.Drainage boards are responsible for planning to meet specific rule requirements established by DATCP. DATCP has established standards for the maintenance of district drains and facilities, procedures for assessments of land benefited by drainage, and procedures for investigating districts for compliance. DATCP also reviews and approves construction and restoration plans, provides on-site inspections, and performs other activities that will bring drainage districts into compliance.
Drainage districts are required to include a 20-foot corridor on each side of the ditch which is to be used as a maintenance corridor. (
24) No row cropping is permitted and vegetation is required. This requirement can be coordinated with soil and water conservation plans required under the Farmland Preservation Program. In addition, the county drainage boards are authorized to assess a single landowner for the costs of correction when he or she is the source of adverse impacts on downstream water quality. Landowners must receive drainage board approval before taking any action which could potentially affect a drainage system. _________________________________(23) The provisions for drainage districts are outlined in Chapter 88 of the
Wisconsin Statutes.
(24) Chapter ATCP 48, Wis. Admin. Code.