What are regulated drains?
"A regulated drain is an open drain, a tiled drain or a combination of the two." Ind. Code § 36-9-27- 2
A regulated or legal drain refers to a creek/ditch that is maintained by the county surveyor and the drainage board under Indiana Drainage Codes. This can include agricultural drains, urban storm sewers, or open drains. These drains are classified in different ways based on their level of maintenance. Citizens can request that a drain's status be changed or to instate a new drain to be regulated.
"If a drain is regulated, “[t]he county surveyor is the technical authority on the construction, reconstruction, and maintenance” of the existing or proposed drain and should be able to inform you of the status of the drain." Ind. Code § 36-9-27-29
Due to the status protections of regulated drains, those who wish to make changes to a legal drain or to provide maintenance to one needs to consult with their county surveyor before taking any action.
Further reading on regulated drains in Indiana:
Legal Considerations for Solving Drainage Problems
https://www.sjcindiana.com/DocumentCenter/View/10526/Legal-Considerations-for-Solving-Drainage-Problems?bidId=#:~:text=Regulated%20drains-,A%20regulated%20drain%20is%20an%20open%20drain%2C%20a%20tiled%20drain,a%20combination%20of%20the%20two.
Legal Considerations for Solving Drainage Problems
https://www.sjcindiana.com/DocumentCenter/View/10526/Legal-Considerations-for-Solving-Drainage-Problems?bidId=#:~:text=Regulated%20drains-,A%20regulated%20drain%20is%20an%20open%20drain%2C%20a%20tiled%20drain,a%20combination%20of%20the%20two.
Indiana Drainage Handbook
https://www.in.gov/dnr/water/files/allhbook.pdf
https://www.in.gov/dnr/water/files/allhbook.pdf
2023 Regulated drains in Warrick county
Main Drain |
Branched Drain |
Length in Linear Ft. |
Coles Creek |
Bryon Skelton Ditch |
4,428 |
. |
Carlislse Prong |
21,000 |
. |
Charles Douglas Ditch |
4,000 |
. |
Hay Fork Ditch |
14,975 |
. |
Hendrickson Ditch |
3,234 |
. |
Hoskinson Ditch |
13,100 |
. |
Hunt Trail Ditch |
21,343 |
. |
J.N. Scales Ditch |
9,000 |
. |
J.R. Scales Ditch |
15,000 |
. |
K & H Lateral |
14,280 |
. |
McClary Fork Ditch |
12,836 |
. |
Other Laterals |
79,800 |
. |
Pervis Drain |
3,821 |
. |
Powers Ditch |
2,637 |
. |
Shelton Knapp Ditch |
4,179 |
. |
Skelton Knapp Lateral |
2,985 |
. |
Skelton Prong |
5,800 |
. |
Ward Ditch |
4,400 |
. |
Wright Ditch |
6,020 |
Summer Pecka |
Other Laterals |
18,000 |
Little Pigeon Creek |
Davis Enlow Ditch |
3,234 |
. |
Johnson Ditch |
6,169 |
. |
North Fork |
198,300 |
. |
Pruitt Ditch |
8,955 |
Hutchinson Ditch |
-------------------------------- |
|
Weinsheimer |
Allen Schnapf Ditch |
6,650 |
. |
Angel Ditch |
9,500 |
. |
Angel Ditch-Urban Drain |
1,900 |
. |
Broshears Ditch |
6,600 |
. |
Castle Garden Ditch |
2,836 |
. |
Edwards Ditch |
18,743 |
. |
Edwards Ditch II |
4,200 |
. |
Gardner-Webb Ditch |
19,683 |
. |
Gardner-Webb Lateral #1 |
2,189 |
. |
Gardner-Webb-Urban Brooklyn Ridge Sub |
1,314 |
. |
Gardner-Webb-Urban Drain |
2,803 |
. |
Howard Ditch |
18,000 |
. |
Lockwood Ditch |
16,000 |
. |
Sprengel Ditch |
8,500 |
. |
Tanglewood Ditch |
1,542 |
. |
Tanglewood Ditch-Urban Drain |
2,737 |
. |
Williams Ditch |
4,726 |
Barrenfork |
Daniel Huegel Ditch |
12,600 |
. |
Ellison Ditch |
15,323 |
. |
Hass Ditch |
4,527 |
. |
Knapp Ditch |
2,000 |
. |
Knapp Lateral |
697 |
. |
Lennis Hart Ditch |
5,200 |
. |
McClary Ditch |
12,500 |
. |
Polk Ditch |
8,557 |
. |
Schnepper Ditch |
6,100 |
. |
White Ditch |
2,040 |
Polkberry |
Other Laterals |
22,139 |
. |
Raber Ditch |
7,020 |
. |
Robinson Ditch |
20,000 |