The Gainsborough Internal Drainage Board was constituted in 1940 under the 1930 Land Drainage Act. The first meeting was held on 23rd April of that year.

The Board’s District lies within the area covered by West Lindsey District Council and North Lincolnshire Council. The Board is mainly a rural Board with small areas of urban development. The main urban area is the town of Gainsborough, which lies almost totally outside of the District.

The Board’s district covers some 6,337 hectares its western boundary is the River Trent whilst the northern boundary is the River Eau.

The Board maintains some 75.70km of watercourse and 5 pumping stations. Approximately two thirds of the Board’s district relies on the pumping stations whilst the rest relies on the River Eau and its gravity outfall into the River Trent. The River Eau is maintained by the Environment Agency.