Commission – Clean Water Legacy Act

Early in 2007, the Commission was awarded $89,360 to initiate a monitoring program at four sites in Elm, Rush, North Fork Rush and Diamond Creeks and Weaver, Fish, Diamond, Cowley, Henry and Rice Lakes through a Clean Water Legacy – Surface Water Assessment grant.   The Elm, Rush and Diamond Creek Stream Monitoring Project will measure dissolved oxygen, invertebrate populations, bacteria levels and pollutant transport (phosphorus, nitrogen and sediment) in the streams and a range of nine parameters in the lakes.  The monitoring project will allow the Commission to assess the effectiveness of its Second Generation Watershed Management Plan rules in reducing impacts on aquatic life and reducing pollutant transport and begin development of strategies to complete a TMDL analysis of the stream network and watershed.  Data from this study, along with the on-going channel stabilization study, will allow the Commission to revise stormwater management policies to protect the streams as urbanization continues. 

Economically, continued impairment of the water quality in Elm, Rush and Diamond Creeks may require future restriction on urban development in the watershed.  Water quality degradation and continued stream channel erosion is threatening recreational use in Elm Creek Park Reserve and in the Champlin Mill Ponds. 

The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, Hennepin County Department of Environmental Services and the Three Rivers Park District are working together to complete this project by June 2009.

The Clean Water Legacy Act (CWLA) - Surface Water Assessment Grant is a competitive application process to identify and assist projects that will be most beneficial in meeting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency‘s (MPCA) goal of assessing the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of Minnesota lakes and streams to identify if designated uses are being met and to provide information on the condition of waters.

The Surface Water Assessment Grant Program is administered by the MPCA under Minnesota Session Laws 2006 Chapter 282, Article 11, Section 2.