The Isle of Axholme Internal Drainage Board was formed in April 2005 by the amalgamation of the Adlingfleet and Whitgift Drainage Commissioners, Althorpe Internal Drainage Board, Crowle Area Internal Drainage Board, South Axholme Internal Drainage Board, West Butterwick Internal Drainage Board and West Axholme Internal Drainage Board.

The Board's district is 18,262 hectares adjacent to the west bank of the River Trent stretching from the River Idle at West Stockwith to its confluence with the Yorkshire Ouse at Trent Falls. The River Ouse forms the northern boundary to the district.

The Board maintains 302km of watercourse and has 18 pumping stations.

There are two main centres of population within the district, at Crowle and Epworth, and the district is bisected by the M180.

The land drainage history of the Isle of Axholme is well known with the early influence of the dutchman, Vermuyden. He initiated the realignment of several of the highland carriers flowing through the district and this allowed for increased agricultural production. This early agricultural activity has left a legacy in the unique strip farming which is still in existence around Epworth.

The Board's area is adjacent to the Thorne Moors and the Hatfield Moors, both environmentally sensitive areas. Within the district there are other environmental areas known as Turbarys, again, a historical throwback to areas where originally fishing and then peat cutting was undertaken. The Epworth Turbary is one of the sites which is maintained by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.