Ditch & Drainage System

 
 

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

Contact

4th District Highway Superintendent
Dale Johnson
Cook Office:
218-666-5261

Ely Office:  
218-365-2381
Email


5th District Highway Superintendent
Gordy Halverson
Pike Lake Office:
218-625-3849
Email


6th District Highway Superintendent
Gerald Vanguilder
218-742-9803
Email 


7th District Highway Superintendent
Chad Walters
218-262-0270
Email