Drainage Reponsibilities

Ownership and responsibility for maintenance of ditches, storm sewers, detention ponds, and streams in the City varies. The following summary provides a simplified view of this complex situation.

Ditches and storm sewers

Maintenance and repair of ditches and storm sewers is generally the responsibility of the owner of the property on which the ditch or storm sewer is located, unless it is located in a drainage easement. Maintenance and repair of ditches or storm sewers located on a drainage easement are generally the responsibility of the easement holder. The repair of drainage problems in roadside ditches located in City right-of-way are evaluated individually since there is currently no source of City funding for ditch maintenance.

Detention ponds

Maintenance and repair of detention ponds is the responsibility of the property owner of the property on which the detention pond is located. Detention ponds, range in size from backyard detention provided by swales to large regional detention ponds typically maintained by a Homeowner’s Association or large landowner. The City of Champaign currently owns and operates four regional detention ponds- the Upper Boneyard Detention Pond, the Eureka-Elm Detention Pond, the Oak-Ash Detention Pond and the Healey Street Detention Pond.

Streams

With the exception of some sections of the Boneyard Creek, streams within the City of Champaign are privately owned. Federal, state and local governments regulate stream construction activities since effective stream drainage is essential to drainage within the entire drainage basin. Local organizations, such as a Drainage District or the City, also typically help the stream property owners with rehabilitation and major maintenance.

Currently the City of Champaign has jurisdiction over the Boneyard Creek and the Phinney Branch Creek within the City limits. The Fountain Head Drainage District has jurisdiction over the Copper Slough. The Beaver Lake Drainage District has jurisdiction over their major tiles in the area north of Interstate 74. The Embarras River does not fall under any local drainage jurisdiction within the City limits.