NOTICE.... (4/14/2022) This site is a work in progress. Not all drains or drainage districts are represented here at this time. We are actively adding more information and hope to have this site completed sometime in 2023.

About the St. Joseph County Drain Assessment Mapping System

This site is intended to provide detailed current and historic information pertaining to the drains managed by the St Joseph County Drain Commissioner. Here you will find:

• maps of the drains and current drain districts boundaries,
• current and historic apportionment details,
• physical drain characteristics,
• approximate drain right-of-way boundaries,
• calculated drainshed boundaries (drain watershed),
• all historic files dating back to the establishment of the original drain,
• a Project Assessment Calculator to determine the estimated cost assessed to each parcel based on a user-defined project cost.
• Flood districts, watershed districts, hydric soils, wetlands,
• and much more...

About the St. Joseph County Drain Commissioner

The job of the drain commissioner is to oversee the county's drains. This can be a natural or artificial creek or ditch or a pipeline for carrying storm water. The territory served by a specific drain, known as its watershed, is organized as a drainage district. It is in these districts that the commissioner levies tax assessments and directs construction or maintenance of drains and culverts. St Joseph County has over 100 drainage districts.

The authority to levy taxes comes from the Michigan Drain Code of 1956, which authorizes drain commissioners to assess the cost of drain work to land owners in the drainage district. In addition to levying taxes, the drain commissioner is also responsible for general management of drainage districts, including keeping historical, financial and easement records, requiring permits for activities affecting the drain, responding to service requests, and scheduling maintenance.

Drain commissioners are also responsible for administering Michigan laws related to flood protection, storm water management and soil erosion.

DEFINITIONS:

Historic Apportionment: the percent of drain maintenance costs assessed to historic parcels on the most recent recorded assessment. Parcel boundaries, owner names (if available), and apportionment % are displayed on this map as they appeared at the time the last recorded assessment was issued. The Historic Apportionment is used as the basis to determine the Current Apportionment.

Current Apportionment: the percent of drain maintenance costs to be assessed to current parcels. The Current Apportionment is based on the Historic Apportionment as it applies to current parcel boundaries.

Drain District: The district boundaries as established when the drain was originally constructed, including any subsequent revisions. Many district boundaries were established well over 100 years ago (some as far back as the 1840's). While these were determined using the best tools and methods available at the time, often these historic district boundaries don't reflect actual drainage basins and may no longer fairly apportion costs to current land owners.

Drainage Basin: An area of land where water from rain or snow melt drains downhill into into the drain, directly or indirectly. Also known as a drain watershed or drainshed.

Modified Drain District: The Modified Drain District represents how the district could be updated, realigned and reapportioned in a more fair and equitable manner based on benefit.

• The Modified Drain District boundaries shown have been re-aligned to the actual drainage basin boundaries.
• The Modified Drain District apportionments are recalculated for each parcel based on benefit according to the following three factors:

1. Land Use: Developed and agricultural lands are apportioned at a higher rate than natural or undeveloped lands.
2. Need: Developed or agricultural lands on hydric soils are apportioned at a higher rate than lands on non-hydric soils.
3. Proximity: Lands closer to the drain are apportioned at a higher rate than lands farther away.

Click HERE for a more detailed discussion on how Modified Drain Districts are created.

Transitioning from Existing Drain Districts to Modified Drain Districts: Current Drain District landowners may petition for realignment and reapportionment of the existing Drain District to match the new Modified Drain District. If you would like a petition for a county drain, please contact our office and we will supply you with a petition. You will need to circulate the petition and 5 or more signatures must be collected from property owners in the current assessment district. Finally the circulator will need to sign the petition in the presence of a notary public before submitting to the Drain Commissioner.

Governing Law: THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DRAIN CODE OF 1956 (Act 40)

NOTICE.... (2/1/2023) This site is a work in progress. Not all drains or drainage districts are represented here at this time. We are actively adding more information as needed.

We have made every effort to ensure that the information and material on this website is and remains accurate. However no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made or given about accuracy, completeness or suitability of the information or material for a particular purpose. Use of this website is at the risk of the user and we shall be liable for any claim damage or loss whatsoever which may arise or result from such use. We will not be liable for any loss or damage which may arise including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from the use or loss of use of, data or profits arising out of or in connection with the use of this website.