Drainage Records Modernization and Statewide Geographic Information System Database

There are currently more than 21,000 miles of drainage ditches and many thousands of miles of subsurface tile located throughout Minnesota and overseen by over 100 different local drainage authorities. Historically public records of these drainage systems have been maintained primarily in hard copy following differing protocols depending on local requirements. However, this antiquated approach limits the usability and accessibility of public drainage records creating various challenges for drainage management efforts. Modernizing drainage records involves creating and cataloguing electronic copies of the records. While many drainage authorizes have begun at least some level of modernization, there is still much work to be done. The Board of Water and Soil Resources is using this appropriation to establish a standardized information system to house public drainage records in a consistent manner that integrates the data with overall statewide GIS data. The system will facilitate increased accessibility and usability to drainage records and benefit water planning, modeling, and management efforts.