The Department for Infrastructure Rivers (DfI Rivers) is responsible for designated watercourses across Northern Ireland, while farmers are responsible for non-designated watercourses on their land. The Ulster Farmers' Union (UFU) technical officers help members navigate the rules and processes for watercourse maintenance, drainage consent, and flooding issues.

Designated watercourses are part of Northern Ireland's statutory drainage network and are mapped by DfI Rivers. Farmers can check the designation status of a watercourse through DfI Rivers' online mapping system or by contacting their local Rivers office. UFU technical officers can also assist by reviewing maps and confirming designation.

DfI Rivers inspects and maintains designated watercourses based on flood risk. Urban designated watercourses are inspected annually due to higher flooding risk to property. Rural watercourses are inspected on a rolling cycle of one to six years, depending on risk, drainage impact, and channel type. Maintenance may include vegetation clearance, silt removal, and addressing blockages that threaten property or infrastructure.

Farmers must obtain drainage consent from DfI Rivers before carrying out works on a designated watercourse, such as installing culverts, repairing banks, or constructing crossings. UFU technical officers help members prepare consent applications by outlining the purpose of the works, providing maps and photographs, and demonstrating how proposals will protect watercourse integrity. For groups of landowners experiencing flooding along a designated watercourse, technical officers can coordinate a request to DfI Rivers to ensure problems are addressed collectively and avoid creating issues downstream.

Non-designated watercourses, including small streams and ditches, are not part of the statutory network and are the responsibility of the landowner, who must keep them clear and flowing. DfI Rivers does not maintain these channels, but may intervene if issues affect designated watercourses or wider drainage systems. If a neighbouring landowner fails to maintain a non-designated watercourse and it causes flooding or obstruction downstream, DfI Rivers has enforcement powers to require remedial works.

Any work on watercourses, designated or not, cannot take place during salmonid spawning season, which typically runs from late autumn into early winter, approximately October to January.

UFU technical officers regularly contact DfI Rivers on behalf of members to report problems, push for progress, or help apply for consent. However, the Department operates under significant budget constraints and gives priority to protecting homes and urban areas. As a result, even when problems are acknowledged, maintenance may be delayed and lower-risk issues can remain unresolved for extended periods.