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Yard Drainage & Erosion Control in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN

Quick answer

Twin Cities drainage problems usually come from snowmelt running over frozen ground, summer downpours, settled soil around foundations and downspouts that discharge too close to the house. Fixes include regrading, downspout extensions, swales, French drains with a working outlet and rain gardens. Work near lakes, wetlands, creeks or bluffs may need city or watershed review.

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Drainage problems in the Twin Cities often show up in two seasons. In March and April, snowmelt runs across frozen ground that can't absorb it, ponds in low spots and finds its way toward basements. In summer, heavy thunderstorms drop a lot of rain in a short time. Many Minneapolis and St. Paul homes have basements, so water near the foundation matters more here than in places where houses sit on slabs.

Signs you have a drainage problem

  • Water standing in the lawn a day or more after rain, or ice sheets in the same spot every spring
  • Damp basement walls or water entering near a window well
  • Downspouts emptying right beside the foundation
  • Gullies, exposed roots or soil washing onto a sidewalk or driveway
  • Soil that has settled so the yard now slopes toward the house

Common solutions

  • Regrading: rebuilding the slope so the ground falls away from the house, with compacted soil rather than mulch.
  • Downspout extensions and buried lines: carrying roof water well away from the foundation to a safe outlet.
  • Swales: shallow grassed channels that move surface water across the yard.
  • French drains: gravel trenches with perforated pipe for soil that stays saturated. They need a real outlet and work poorly where the outlet freezes shut.
  • Rain gardens: shallow planted basins that soak up runoff. University of Minnesota Extension advises keeping them at least 10 feet from buildings and testing that a 10-inch hole of water drains within 48 hours.
  • Dry creek beds: rock channels that carry storm water and look intentional.

Erosion on slopes and bluffs

Steep yards along the Mississippi and Minnesota river valleys, lake shores and creek ravines are common around the metro. Keep soil covered with deep-rooted native plants, erosion-control blanket or mulch, slow water down with terracing or rock, and fix the source of the water first. Buckthorn thickets shade out groundcover and leave bare soil, so removing buckthorn and replanting is often part of slope repair.

Rules and grants

Much of the metro is covered by watershed districts or watershed management organizations, and work near lakes, wetlands, creeks or bluffs may need city or watershed approval. Some districts also offer grants for rain gardens and other clean water projects; the Capitol Region Watershed District, which covers St. Paul and nearby areas, is one example. Don't solve your problem by sending concentrated water onto a neighbor's property.

Before you hire

  • Take video during a spring melt or heavy rain showing where water comes from and where it goes.
  • Note whether gutters overflow and where every downspout discharges.
  • Ask where the water will end up and how the outlet will be protected from erosion and freezing.
  • Confirm the contractor will contact Gopher State One Call (811) before trenching. Private lines, such as sprinkler pipe and septic lines, aren't marked by the locate.

If water is actively entering a basement or undermining a wall or driveway, mark your request as urgent. Request a drainage company.

See how it works

How a French drain carries water away from a yard. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
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Frequently asked questions

Why does my yard flood every spring?

In March and April, snowmelt and early rain hit ground that is still frozen and can't absorb water, so it ponds in low spots or runs toward the house. Regrading, downspout extensions and swales are the usual fixes.

Are there grants for rain gardens in the Twin Cities?

Some watershed districts offer them. The Capitol Region Watershed District, which covers St. Paul and nearby areas, offers clean water project grants that residents can apply for. Check with the watershed district that covers your address.

How far should a rain garden be from my house?

University of Minnesota Extension advises at least 10 feet from buildings and at least 35 feet from a septic drain field, in a spot where water in a 10-inch test hole drains within 48 hours.

Sources and further reading

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