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Farmers are looking to more intensive management strategies to increase yields and improve production efficiency on cropland. Controlled drainage and subirrigation are management practices being implemented on many artificially drained soils. Subsurface drainage, controlled drainage, and subirrigation are collectively referred to as "Water Table Management Systems". These management strategies can improve drainage water quality in addition to increasing yields and production efficiency. Water table management systems are expensive and careful planning and design of these systems is crucial. Practical, objective strategies are presented to assist in the design of water table management systems. The influence of soil and site properties on system selection and design are discussed. Guidelines are presented to assist in evaluating soil and site properties necessary to design water table management systems.