Drainage - North Fork Crow River Watershed District

Drainage Authority - Roles and Responsibilities

The North Fork Crow River Watershed District is the governmental unit responsible for managing and maintaining public drainage systems within its boundaries operating under MN State Statute 103E. Under this rule, the drainage authority generally may make orders to;

(1) construct and maintain drainage systems;

(2) deepen, widen, straighten, or change the channel or bed of a natural waterway that is part of the drainage system or is located at the outlet of a drainage system;

(3) extend a drainage system into or through a municipality for a suitable outlet; and

(4) construct necessary dikes, dams, and control structures and power appliances, pumps, and pumping machinery as provided by law.

NFCRWD Public Drainage Systems

2023 Ditch Work Update

Judicial Ditch 1 (JD-1) - Pope / Stearns Counties

Judicial Ditch 1, otherwise known as JD 1, is located in both Pope and Stearns County. This system was originally constructed in 1907 and completed in 1910. It comprises 42 miles of open channel and closed tile and accepts drainage from an area of 25,000 acres.

Judicial Ditch 2 (JD-2) - Stearns / Kandiyohi County

JD 2 was constructed in 1909 and turned over to the NFCRWD in 1996.

County Ditch 3 (CD 3) - Stearns County

One of the oldest systems in the WD, CD-3 was constructed in 1899 and turned over to the WD in 2000.

County Ditch 4 (CD 4) - Meeker County

The CD-4 drainage system was turned over to the WD on April 8, 2003 by Meeker County.

County Ditch 5 (CD 5) - Stearns County

The WD was given control of this system in 1995. Stearns County Ditch 5 was constructed in 1907.

County Ditch 7 - Stearns County

CD 7 was constructed in 1901 with an improvement in the early 1980's and the system was turned over to the NFCRWD in 1998.

County Ditch 21 (CD 21) - Stearns County

This system was turned over to the NFCRWD in 1996. This system was originally constructed in 1905.

County Ditch 29 (CD 29) - Stearns County

CD-29 was originally constructed in 1906. Before the system was turned over to the WD, a water holding structure was installed by Stearns County in the sub-main of CD-37 which flows into ditch 29, as part of a wetland mitigation project with the Army Corps. The part of the sub-main from the holding structure to CD-29 is now included in the benefited acres of CD-29. In 2000, the system was turned over to the WD.

County Ditch 32 (CD 32) - Stearns County

CD-32 was constructed in 1911. It has both tile and open ditch. CD-32 was turned over to the NFCRWD in 1998.

County Ditch 36 (CD 36) - Stearns County

The system was originally built in 1916. This ditch was turned over the NFCRWD in 1998.

County Ditch 37 (CD 37) - Stearns County

CD 37 was originally constructed in 1916 and was turned over to the WD in 1995. A redetermination of benefits was started by Stearns County in the 1980's but never completed.

County Ditch 38 (CD 38) - Stearns County

This tiled system was built in 1916. It was turned over to the WD in 1995.

County Ditch 43 (CD 43) - Meeker County

This system was constructed in 1915. This system was turned over to the WD in 2003.