Iowa Drainage District Engineering

Most of our work is for drainage districts under Iowa Code Chapter 468 including tile and open ditch repairs and improvement engineer's reports, reclassifications and annexations, watchperson and drainage administration. We also design wetlands and water quality practices within drainage districts. 

Whether you're a landowner with a wet field, a drainage clerk with a petition on your desk, or a contractor looking for our next letting, this page will tell you what we do and how a project works.

How a Drainage District Project Works

Drainage District Petition

1. Petition

A landowner files a petition with the County Auditor asking the district to investigate a repair or improvement.

Not sure whether your problem needs a petition? Call us and we'll tell you honestly, and the phone call is free.

Drainage District Engineer

2. Survey and Study

The Board will appoint an engineer.

If AgriVia is chosen, we survey the district, meet with landowners, locate the existing tile or ditch, evaluate its condition and capacity, and study what the land needs today.

Drainage District Engineer's Report

3. Engineer's Report

We put our findings, recommendation, cost estimate, and plans in a written report to the board.

You can read examples of our reports on our Reports page.

Drainage District Engineer

4. Public Hearing

Every landowner in the district is notified and invited. We attend the hearing, walk through the report in plain language, and answer questions. It is common for hearings to be continued to allow for more time.

Drainage District Plans

5. Bidding

If the board moves forward, we prepare bid documents, solicit qualified contractors, run the letting, and recommend an award.

Current lettings are posted on our Bidding Opportunities page.

Drainage District Construction

6. Construction

We stake the work, observe construction, review contractor pay requests, and hold a completion hearing with the Board and landowners to settle damages. 

For County Boards, Auditors, and Drainage Clerks

We serve as appointed drainage engineer for county-managed districts, and we support the people who keep district records straight. If your county needs an engineer for a drainage project, feel free to contact us for any of the following services:

  • Tile and Open Ditch Repairs & Improvements
  • Reclassification of benefits
  • Annexation
  • District records, mapping, and GIS
  • Drainage watchperson and district administration support

Fees

We understand drainage district repairs and improvements are an economic decision, so we have one flat hourly rate for everyone in the firm with no markup on expenses. Ask us for a fee schedule and we would be happy to share it. 

Water Quality

If a drainage district has a good site for water quality, we will work with the landowner and district to design and manage a site from design to construction.