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Drainage Utility

Public Works | Natural Resources Division

Water rushing into a culvert running under a gravel road.

What is the Drainage Utility Program?

The Drainage Utility Program pays for drainage and stormwater projects in unincorporated Skagit County that otherwise wouldn’t have a funding source or that would cost too much for the affected property owner to pay. The County works hard to use the funds on programs and activities that clearly benefit you and other ratepayers.

The Drainage Utility Program covers all parts of unincorporated Skagit County that are NOT already covered by a Drainage District. The map below shows areas covered by Drainage Districts. If you are outside one of these districts and not within city limits, you are covered by the Drainage Utility Program.

The primary focus of the Drainage Utility Program is responding to drainage concerns outside of the County Road Right of Way.

Drainage concerns in the county often fall within the categories of:

  • Ditch maintenance/ grading
  • Culvert maintenance
  • Lack of infrastructure
  • Failing infrastructure
  • Inadequate conveyance (water not draining properly)
  • Sedimentation/ erosion

The source of a drainage issue is often surface water or runoff that has traveled from other parts of the county. Drainage issues in the county are interrelated and ongoing, resulting in Drainage Utility (DU) personnel examining concerns on a watershed scale.

In addition to drainage concern response, programs funded by the Drainage Utility include:

  • Watershed planning
  • Surface water management projects
  • Habitat restoration
  • Compliance with the County’s NPDES Municipal Stormwater Permit

The Drainage Utility frequently partners with drainage districts, Tribes, cities, and state agencies on a variety of beneficial projects.

Visit our Beaver Management page for information on drainage issues involving beavers.

Are You in a Dike or Drainage District?

Depending on where your drainage concern is, it may be covered by our Drainage Utility Program or by a Dike or Drainage District. The maps below show Skagit County's Dike and Drainage Districts. If your concern is within one of these Districts, please contact the appropriate Commissioner from the Dike, Drainage, and Irrigation Elected Officials List (pdf).

Drainage Districts
Map of 12 dike districts in Skagit County.

Dike Districts

FAQ

Fees are determined based on land use and will increase by 3% yearly. Please see R20250181 (pdf) for details.

  • Keep a log of drainage issues.
  •  Take pictures or videos and note what you have seen and heard during a problem, what you have done to try and fix it, and who you have contacted about it. Include the date and time of day with all notes, photos, and videos.
  • If your drainage issue appears to be impacted by weather, include this in your notes.
  • Contact Skagit County Drainage Utility staff as soon as possible to investigate the issue.

  • Projects are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and some single-property improvements may not qualify for funding. However, technical assistance may be available for problems that do not qualify for project funding.
  • Minor problems where little damage occurs, or damage from very large, infrequent storms may not qualify for funding.
  • Concerns that lie within the boundaries of a Drainage District are managed by the District they are located in (see maps at top of page). If your concern lies within a Drainage District, please contact the appropriate District commissioner (pdf).

Because of the large number of eligible drainage issues and a limited budget, Skagit County’s Drainage Utility Program may not be able to fund a project for every drainage issue assessed. Skagit County Drainage Utility assesses drainage issues on a watershed scale, prioritizing projects that will lead to improved drainage county-wide.

Once a drainage problem is identified, Drainage Utility staff investigate the issue’s nature and history, conducts a site visit if necessary, then completes a ranking form to determine how a potential project is prioritized and if it qualifies for funding. After review, Skagit County staff will discuss possible solutions to the drainage issue with the property owner and/or impacted residents.

If funds are not available for your project, Skagit County’s Drainage Utility staff can still assist you with information and technical assistance. This may include construction suggestions, permit requirement information, etc. Depending on availability of funds, a project may qualify for a project but need to be scheduled in the future for when funding becomes available. 

Visit our Beaver Management page for information on drainage issues involving beavers.

Submit a Drainage Complaint

Contact Us

Drainage Concerns

Aida Miller
Drainage Utility Technician
(360) 416-1434 
aidam@skagitcountywa.gov

General Surface Water Questions

CJ Jones
Project Manager
(360) 416-1448
cjjones@skagitcountywa.gov 

General Questions

Jenn E. Johnson
Natural Resources Division Manager
jennej@skagitcountywa.gov 

Address

1800 Continental Place
Mount Vernon, WA 98273

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