01-10-1994 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MCWD LAKE MANAGEMENT ACriVITIES The 181 square mile Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) originates west of St. Bonifadus. It ends 29 miles later when Minnehaha Creek joins the Mississippi River. Most of the MCWD lies in Hennepin County, although about 30 square miles are in Carver County. The District includes all or part of 27 cities and three townships. The MCWD’s 22 prindpal lakes include some of Minnesota’s most important water resources. Some of the District’s eight regional parks enjoy greater use than many state parks. Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota’s fifteenth largest lake, is the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area’s premier general recreation lake. The Minneapolis Chain of Lakes receives more visitors per year than all of the metropolitan area state parks combined and nearly as many as Yellow Stone hational Park. With these important resources to manage and protect, the MCWD takes its lake management responsibilities seriously. To better protect and manage these resources the MCWD encourages communities, government agencies, and private citizens in the watershed to help. The MCWD does four things to manage water resources in the watershed: 1) regulates new development, 2) prepares a water resources management plan, 3) funds a capital improvements program to implement the management plan, and 4) collects watershed hydrologic data. Each of these four activities applies to all water resources in the watershed. They form the basis for the MCWD’s approach to lake management. This information sheet discusses what the MCWD is currently undertaking in these areas and addresses the District’s future plans. It also talks about some significant changes occurring in the watershed over the next few years. We encourage public participation and cooperative efforts with communities and government agencies. We believe opportunities for cooperation exist in the areas of regulation, planning, capital improvement projects, and data collection. MCWD Rules The MCWD’s rules apply to new work within the watershed that may impact the quality or quantity of water. MCWD permits help ensure that developers and property owners follow MCWD rules. In an average year, the MCWD issues about 200 permits for activities such as stormwater management, floodplain alteration, wetland alteration, dredging, shoreline improvements, and stream and lake crossing.