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Elm, Rush, and Diamond Creeks Stream Monitoring Project 2008-2009 The
Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission and Three Rivers Park District (TRPD)
have identified several streams and lakes with significant water quality issues
due to rapid urbanization in the watershed.
The Elm Creek watershed covers 83,600 acres in northern Hennepin County,
extending from the headwaters in Medina to the junction with the Mississippi
River in Champlin. The drainage system
includes three streams: Elm Creek, Rush
Creek, and Diamond Creek.
The
watershed contains several important natural features that include: Elm Creek Park Reserve, Fish Lake Regional
Park, and Crow Hassan Park Reserve.
Diamond Creek flows through Taylor’s Woods, which is a remnant of the
“Big Woods” area of central Minnesota.
These park reserves and regional parks provide essential nesting habitat
for rare species, such as Trumpeter swan, bald eagle, Blandings turtle, Sandhill
crane, and osprey. Continued degradation
of the streams will have a direct effect on these species and on the natural
resource value of the parks. In
2004, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency identified Elm Creek and Rush
Creek as “impaired” for aquatic life. A
channel study implemented by the Commission and Three Rivers Park District also
determined extreme stream degradation along the entire length of Elm Creek,
Rush Creek, and Diamond Creek. In
response to these issues, the Commission partnered with the Park District to
implement a monitoring program along these three streams and six area lakes in
the watershed. The program was funded by
a Clean Water Legacy Act-Surface Water Assessment grant. The objective of the project was to identify
major pollutant sources causing aquatic life impairments in the creeks and
tributaries. Since there was no
historical baseline data for Diamond Creek data was also collected to determine
if this creek is also impaired. The
monitoring program data will allow Commission to update its rules to guide
development in member communities in compliance with its Watershed Management
Plan and assess the effectiveness of its rules to reduce impact on aquatic life
and reduction of pollutant transport. The data will also aid the Commission in the
revision of stormwater management policies in order to protect streams as
urbanization continues in the surrounding communities. The Commission will use the results from this
project to begin development of strategies to complete the watershed-wide Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) currently underway. View
the report here. |
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