C. Inspection of Drainage Systems C. Inspection of Drainage Systems

C. Inspection of Drainage Systems

Drainage Law requires regular inspection of drainage systems (Minn. Stat. § 103E.705) to ascertain the need for repair/maintenance. Inspections are accomplished by an appointed inspection committee or drainage inspector (appointed per Minn. Stat. § 103E.065). It also stipulates that “open drainage ditches be inspected at least once every 5 years when no violation of section Minn. Stat. § 103E.021 is found and annually when a violation of section Minn. Stat. § 103E.021 is found, until one year after the violation is corrected.” Section Minn. Stat. § 103E.021 specifies the establishment of Vegetated Ditch Buffer Strips, which are required when viewers are appointed or as established incrementally by the drainage authority under section Minn. Stat. § 103E.021, Subd. 6 (may or may not require appointing viewers).

The inspection report requirements are found in Minn. Stat. § 103E.705:
“For each drainage system that the board designates and requires the drainage inspector to examine, the drainage inspector shall make a drainage inspection report in writing to the board after examining a drainage system, designating portions of a drainage system that need repair or maintenance of the permanent strips of perennial vegetation and the location and nature of the repair or maintenance.”