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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.