Fourth Generation Watershed Management Plan

In Fall 2021, the Commissions began working on their Fourth Generation Plan. The 60-day review period for the draft plan ended in January 2023 and a public hearing was held on February 9th. The plan was officially adopted by the Commissions in May 2023.

The Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act of 1982 required all land in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area to be divided into watersheds, each watershed to be overseen by a Watershed Management Organization (WMO), and each WMO to adopt a Watershed Management Plan. These plans must be updated at least every ten years.

The Commissions adopted their initial or First Generation Management Plans in 1990.  Each Commission adopted a separate plan, although many policies and actions were similar. For the Second Generation Plan, adopted in May 2004, the two Commissions elected to develop a joint management plan. The Third Generation Plan was jointly completed and adopted in 2013. The Plan is periodically revised, as revisions are made to the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) or when a policy change is made. 

More information will be posted as we start on the public outreach process in fall 2022.

In the meantime, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them here:

TAKE A LOOK, the final (90-day) draft of the Watersheds' Fourth Generation Watershed Management Plan is linked below. 

• ​Fourth Generation Management Plan: Fact sheet
• Fourth Generation Management Plan Final Draft 2-14-2023 ​
  • Appendix A: Joint Powers Agreements
  • ​Appendix B: Inventory & Condition Assessment
  • Appendix C: Third Generation Plan Self-Assessment
  • Appendix D: SCWM Rules & Standards
  • Appendix E: Monitoring Program & Resource Management Plans​

As part of the Fourth Generation Plan, the Commissions completed a Self Assessment of their accomplishments during the period 2013-2022. Read about it here: Third Generation Plan Self Assessment

Some highlights:

• The MPCA has removed three lakes from the list of Impaired Waters due to improved water quality: Schmidt, Lower Twin and Ryan. See our annual reports and lake report cards here.
• Sediment concentrations in Shingle Creek have decreased by 25% and total phosphorus by 35%.
• Chloride and bacteria concentrations in Shingle Creek remain high but have stabilized.
• Cities in the watersheds have constructed nearly $10 million in water quality improvement projects with the financial assistance of the Commissions. 
• The Commissions have won nearly $3.5 million in grant funding to undertake lake and stream improvement projects.
• Three miles, or almost one-third of the length of Shingle Creek has been stabilized and restored with native vegetation and enhanced stream habitat.
• The watersheds have partnered with the Elm Creek and Bassett Creek watersheds to form the West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) to jointly provide education and outreach opportunities.
• Over 20,700 fourth graders have participated in WMWA's Watershed PREP program