Welcome to the

Shingle Creek/West Mississippi Watershed!

The Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commissions are the regional governmental units responsible for protecting the water resources of the Shingle Creek and West Mississippi watersheds. We invite you to browse our site using the tabs along the top of the page.

Proposed Major Plan Amendment under 45 day review. Click here for more information.

The Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission won a $282,000 research grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to explore chloride reduction by using pervious pavement on residential streets. The research grant is funding a paired intersection study to estimate the effectiveness of pervious pavement in reducing the need for road salt and reducing runoff volume and pollutant loading to downstream water resources. The secondary research questions are to better understand pervious pavement performance and maintenance requirements on a cold-climate city street.

In the October 2009 issue of Stormwater Magazine, the article, “Salt: No Easy Answers,” highlights the work the Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission has done to develop the chloride TMDL and Implementation Plan. It describes the various BMPs implemented by the stakeholders to reduce salt loading in the watershed.

10 Things.png Ten Things You Can Do to Improve Minnesota’s Lakes and Streams brochure now available.

This brochure was developed as a direct result of responses received from a recent survey of watershed residents who were asked about the measures they were willing to undertake and how much they were willing to pay to protect and clean up the lakes and streams in the area.

Homeowners are already taking some individual steps to improve water quality, such as using phosphorous-free fertilizer, keeping the streets free of lawn clippings and leaves, and redirecting their downspouts. However, there is interest and willingness to go even farther by planting rain gardens, installing rain barrels, and using more native plants in their landscaping. The brochure expands the list of things that every resident can do.

Results of the survey showed that clean water in Minnesota’s lakes and streams is very important to Minnesotans. More than three-quarters of the homeowners contacted said clean water was very important, even when they consider all the other important issues facing their communities. In fact, those homeowners were willing to pay, on average, an extra $4.78 per month tax or fee increase just to clean up the surface water in local lakes and streams. Almost 80 percent of those surveyed believe everyone should pay for protecting water quality in our lakes and streams, not just the property owners who live on the lake.

The survey, conducted by Decision Resources, Inc., was sponsored by members of the Joint Education and Public Outreach Committee (EPOC). The members include representatives from the Bassett Creek, Elm Creek, Pioneer-Sarah Creek, Shingle Creek and West Mississippi Watershed Management Commissions. The Joint EPOC coordinates both general Commission education and outreach as well as NPDES Phase II education and public outreach activities for the cities in the member watersheds. The Committee meets quarterly, and reviews and advises the Commissions on education and water quality grants, NPDES activities, educational messages and collaborative activities that advance the public’s knowledge and awareness of water resources issues in the northwestern suburbs.

Salt Workshop

TMDL Development Continues

(*Links will be available soon)

The Pomerleau-Schmidt-Bass Lakes TMDL* has been submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval, which is expected by mid-September, 2009. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) approved the Implementation Plan on December 3, 2009.

The Cedar Island-Pike-Eagle Lakes TMDL* is in final review and circulation at the MPCA in preparation for the Public Notice, expected in late September 2009. Following the 30 day Public Notice, the MPCA must respond to any comments received, make any necessary changes to the TMDL, and wait at least 30 days before submitting the TMDL to the EPA for final approval. Final revisions will then be made to the Implementation Plan* for submittal to the MPCA for final approval.

The Meadow Lake TMDL* is in final review and circulation at the MPCA in preparation for the Public Notice, expected by the end of September 2009. Following the 30 day Public Notice, the MPCA must respond to any comments received, make any necessary changes to the TMDL, and wait at least 30 days before submitting the TMDL to the EPA for final approval. Final revision will then be made to the Implementation Plan* before submittal to the MPCA for final approval.

The Crystal Lake TMDL received final approval from EPA on March 25, 2009. The Implementation Plan was approved by MPCA on July 7, 2009.

The Twin-Ryan Lakes TMDL was approved by the EPA on November 9, 2007 and its Implementation Plan approved by MPCA four days later.

The Shingle Creek Chloride TMDL was approved by the EPA on February 14, 2007 and its Implementation Plan on March 5, 2007. The link to these three approved TMDLS and Implementation Plans is: www.pca.state.mn.us/water/tmdl/tmdl-approved.html.

Major Plan Amendment Revises the Capital Improvement Program

On August 27, 2009 the Board of Water and Soil Resources approved a Major Amendment to the Commissions’ second generation Watershed Management Plan. Adopted by the Commissions on September 10, 2009, the amendment adopted a revision to the Commissions’ joint Capital Improvement Program for the year 2010 – a potential $750,000 restoration project for Shingle Creek between Regent and Noble Avenues in Brooklyn Park in response to a visioning project now being completed by Hennepin Community Works and the Cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.

2008 Annual Water Quality Report

The 2008 Annual Water Quality Report presents the finding of the various monitoring programs in the Shingle Creek/West Mississippi watershed, including streams, lakes, biological and wetland monitoring. Ongoing monitoring allows the Commission to evaluate the effectiveness of best management practices, especially as TMDL implementation proceeds and provides a baseline for reasonable water quality goals. The 2009 Report will be available in early Spring 2010.

Middletwin_crystal bench.jpg Links to commonly requested information: