Assistance to drainage districts
Wis. Stat. § 88.11
in effect(1) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection shall employ an engineer, who shall be the state drainage engineer, to improve district operations. The department shall do all of the following:
(a) Perform inspections in drainage districts to determine compliance with this section.
(b) Review and approve district maintenance plans including ditch designs; installation and maintenance of structures; and plans for drainage, drainage control, soil conservation and water conservation, and require alteration of plans and existing structures in order to achieve and maintain compliance with performance standards established under par. (i).
(c) Provide guidance to drainage boards and professional engineers in developing district surveys and maintenance plans.
(d) Review and approve district designs for new ditches and structures, assist districts in developing hydrologic and hydraulic information about project effectiveness, and require alteration of the designs in order to achieve and maintain compliance with performance standards established under par. (i).
(e) Coordinate district activities with the department of natural resources.
(f) Assist districts in applying for permits under s. 88.31.
(g) Provide guidelines for compliance with federal and state agricultural and conservation programs.
(h) Establish, by rule, procedures for assessments and reassessments.
(i) Establish, by rule, performance standards for drainage district structures, ditches, maintenance and operations, in order to minimize adverse effects on water quality. The performance standards shall be consistent with any requirements imposed by the department of natural resources under s. 88.31.
(j) Prepare reports for the purposes of sub. (3).
(k) Establish, by rule, a procedure for an investigation of whether a drainage district complies with this section and any requirements imposed by the department under this section.
(L) In cooperation with the state drainage engineer, produce an educational pamphlet in 2009, and every 3 years thereafter, that describes the function of drainage districts, costs that may be assessed to persons whose property is located in a drainage district, and contact information for the state drainage engineer. The pamphlet shall be distributed, upon request, to drainage boards and to any person who requests the pamphlet.
(1m) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may perform any functions related to drainage districts that the department considers appropriate.
(2) The state drainage engineer shall provide technical assistance to improve district operations on the request of the department of natural resources, drainage board, landowners in the district or the judge.
(3) If the area proposed for drainage exceeds 200 acres in a single project, the board or the petitioners, before the hearing on the report under s. 88.34, 88.36 or 88.77, shall procure a report of the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection on all of the following:
(a) The location, design, feasibility and cost of the proposed outlet drains.
(b) A general description of the additional drainage necessary to reclaim the land fully for general agricultural purposes, and its probable cost.
(c) A general comparison of the benefits in the different parts of the district on the basis of the location and design of the proposed drains.
(d) The physical features of the land to be drained.
(4) The board or the petitioners, with the aid of an engineer having the qualifications specified in s. 88.21 (5), shall make the necessary survey and evaluation as directed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for its report.
(6) A drainage district shall comply with the rules promulgated under this section and any requirements imposed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection under this section.
(7) The department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection may issue a special order directing the immediate cessation of work regulated under this section until the necessary plan approval is obtained or until the project complies with this section.
(8) Any person who violates this section may be required to forfeit not less than $25 nor more than $500 for each violation. Each day of continued violation constitutes a separate offense.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/88.11Fetched: 10/7/2026