Question
Hi Jeff!
HELP!  I live in Marysville Michigan.  My house is 9 years old.  It is on CLAY- -Marysville is notorious for being on clay and having a high water table (We are 1/2 mile from ST. Clair river and 2 miles from Lake Huron).

History of Problem:  This year on my front lawn (40'X60') I had a brown spot of grass in mid summer 8'X8' , no history of that in past-lawn fertilizing contractor called it a virus due to heavy rains in area this summer.  I have a sprinkler system (installed 4 years ago).  No prior issues like this in past.  The area would often feel somewhat "mushy" after rain and if the system watered it (system set to run 3 X week).  At same time, I had cable tv contractors boring lines under my lawn for expansion work.  They stated they bore down 2-3 feet.  Brown spot area has grown to 12 X 12'.  Now True-Green (fert.contractor) says problem is with over watering or busted underground sprikler line, but I have not had my sytem on in last 2 weeks!.  I called my sprinkler contractor to check for ruptured lines.  They replaced one leaking nozzle-removed nozzles in rotors  installed blanks " so only place water could go it outthe leak" They say no water surfaced on any zone.  They said that when they watered the front  area all heads point to the problem area which is in the middle of the lawn  and it gets "soaked" quickly.  They adjusted  down the time duration for these zones.  They did dig in random spots and said the soil underneath is not as wet as on top.  They say no line leaks that they could find.  I had the city DPW come out and they say no gas lines or septic fields underneath area to cause the brown out. City says heavy rain and clay are culprit.  Only problem is my neighbors lawns are lush green!!!!

PROBLEM:  I notice when it rains heavily, water pools on top of my lawn in this area.  I have a large stone garden 8 feet away from this spot, and I can see water standing above the landscape stones.  My backyard (150' X 200') is fine, except way in the back there is a depression and when it rains heavily, it will have about 3 inches of water for several days-no brown grass though.  I have always noticed that after it rains hard the whole lawn is "mushy" for a day or 2, and my 2 sprinkler control valve pits in the back yard,  seem to always be submerged under water.
QUESTION:  What the heck do I do?  Who do I believe? the sprinkler company? True Green Fertilizing company? The City?  Do I have to dig up my whold front yard to examine inch by inch if any lines are leaking or do you think it is the Clay?  What do I do about it?  City recommended in spring form me to kill the grass in the 12 x 12 area and get a couple loads of top soil put on it to raise the area?  What do you think

Sorry for the very long e mail.  I tried to make it concise, this one has me baffled - -I dont want to pour money into an unnecesary solution.  

Answer
I am sorry if I overlooked you question, but I have been a little under the weather lately.  Sounds to me like you have a soil compaction problem or a soil that will not drain.  Try the simple things first, aeration or drilling some drainage holes through the compaction into subsoil.  There are also chemical wetting agents that help water disperse through tight soil.