2025 highlights from the minnehaha creek watershed
A Note From the Administrator
As 2025 comes to a close, I am proud to reflect on another amazing year for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD)—measured not only in environmental outcomes, but in stronger communities, resilient infrastructure, and meaningful benefits for the people we serve.
For over a decade, MCWD has strived to deliver on a promise to our partners that water solutions should support the whole community, enhancing both built and natural environments—an approach we call Balanced Urban Ecology.
In 2025, MCWD’s work with Hennepin County Emergency Management and the National Weather Service to strengthen regional flood response exemplified this partnership approach. Recognized with a Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership collaboration award, this effort supports local decision-making during storms by coordinating real-time data, dam operations, communications, and emergency management.
MCWD and our state, county, and city partners also received Minnesota Watershed’s Project of the Year Award for Arden Park in Edina, a project that demonstrates how flood protection, water quality improvement, and high-quality park space can be achieved together. By treating runoff from the 50th and France commercial area, the project improved water quality and delivered new park amenities, transforming the neighborhood park into a valued community asset centered around a restored Minnehaha Creek.
Partnership-driven projects like this are underway across the watershed. In Minneapolis, the City, MPRB, and MCWD are advancing projects along Minnehaha Creek to improve water quality, promote flood resilience, and enhance recreation. In Downtown Long Lake, we are partnering with the City to treat regional stormwater while strengthening green connections. And in the Painter Creek Subwatershed, MCWD’s diagnostic work will guide future investments benefiting downstream Lake Minnetonka.
Taken together, these efforts reflect more than a successful year. They represent a decade of impact, built on trust, collaboration, and shared accountability.
Building on this foundation, in January, MCWD will begin developing the 2027 Watershed Management Plan, which will carry Balanced Urban Ecology forward as a framework to guide coordinated decisions and investment over the next decade.
Looking back, I am grateful to the elected officials, staff, and partners whose leadership made 2025 another strong year, and I could not be more excited about shaping our future together!
James Wisker, MCWD Administrator
in this issue:
- Join Us to Kick Off the 2027 Watershed Management Plan Process
- Implementing Projects Through Partnership
- Permitting Partnerships and Impact
- Statewide Carp Management Study
- What You Can Do
JOIN US TO KICK OFF THE 2027 PLAN PROCESS
This January, MCWD is launching the development of our next Watershed Management Plan (Plan)! Updated every 10 years, the Plan outlines MCWD’s goals and guides our work over the next decade.
The current Plan, approved in 2017, established partnership and integrated planning as key principles to deliver projects that achieve our vision of a Balanced Urban Ecology.
The next Plan will build on a decade of impact and apply this approach to new challenges, including extreme weather and development pressures.
Attend the Plan Kickoff
MCWD is excited to kick off the 2027 Plan process with our January kickoff events! Public partners, community leaders, and residents are invited to attend to learn about the Plan and ways to get involved.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Morning Session: 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Minnetonka Community Center – Banquet Room
14600 Minnetonka Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345
Check-in opens at 9:30, presentation begins at 10:00.
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Evening Session: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Minnetonka Community Center – Banquet Room
14600 Minnetonka Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345
Check-in opens at 6:30, presentation begins at 7:00.
Both sessions will be held at the Minnetonka Community Center – Banquet Room (14600 Minnetonka Blvd. Minnetonka, MN 55345). Please register to attend a session.
IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP
MCWD takes a targeted approach to capital projects, focusing our resources in areas of high need to form strong partnerships, align our goals with land use plans, and achieve regional benefits. Subscribe to our Project Area newsletters to stay informed!
MINNEAPOLIS THRIVING WATERS PARTNERSHIP
In 2024, the City of Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB), and MCWD formed the Minneapolis Thriving Waters Partnership, to deliver impactful projects that improve water resources and enhance thriving communities in the City of Lakes.
Designing the First Partnership Project
In 2025, the partners completed a feasibility study for three Phase 1 projects along Minnehaha Creek, and in July, the Partnership’s steering committee selected the first project to advance into design.
Located at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and Minnehaha Parkway, the Cedar Avenue Stormwater and Restoration Project aims to transform flood-prone parkland into a resilient community amenity that could reduce approximately 25-40 lbs. of phosphorus annually to improve water quality in the Creek and impaired Lake Hiawatha, increase flood storage, and enhance access to public greenspace along the Creek.
The Partners anticipate starting design in 2026, with opportunities for community input to inform the project throughout the process.
“This partnership unites our agencies for a strong, coordinated approach to water resource stewardship. By aligning efforts, we’re making smart investments to protect water quality, reduce flood risk, and deliver lasting community benefits. Minnehaha Creek, a vital community asset, will get the attention it deserves,” said Cathy Abene, MPRB District 6 Commissioner and Steering Committee Member.
Long-Range Planning for a Sustainable Future
The Partnership is also developing a series of Management Unit plans to inform long-range project implementation. In 2025, partner staff began creating the first of several plans, the Cedar Lake Management Unit Plan, which will outline the issues, drivers, and project strategies to address nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms in the headwaters of the Chain of Lakes. This plan, which will be finalized in 2026, will serve as a model for subsequent plans.
MINNEHAHA CREEK GREENWAY
For over a decade, MCWD has worked with public and private partners to create the Minnehaha Creek Greenway, a series of interconnected projects in Hopkins and St. Louis Park that improve regional water quality, increase natural flood storage, and expand greenspace along the most degraded stretch of the Creek.
Connecting the Greenway
Building on the past decade of project implementation, MCWD is partnering with the City of St. Louis Park on the Greenway to Cedar Trail Connection, which will link Greenway investments. Supported by funding from the Hennepin County Southwest Community Works program, the project includes construction of a trail from the Minnehaha Creek Preserve to the Cedar Lake LRT Regional Trail. MCWD will also restore streambank along the Creek.
By connecting to the Cedar Regional Trail, this project will expand access to the Greenway for the 1 million annual trail users and place 3,000 units of housing within a 10-minute walk of regional transportation.
In September 2025, MCWD and the City hosted an open house on the project, where community members voiced support for the project and broader Greenway. Design is expected to be finalized early next year, with construction anticipated in 2026.
“We are excited to see the Cedar Lake Regional Trail connect to Minnehaha Creek, allowing our trail users to access nature while bike commuting or out for a run. The more interconnected our systems become, the more options people will have for both non-motorized transportation and recreation,” said Three Rivers Park District Regional Trail System Manager Danny McCullough.
Gateway to the Greenway
Expanding on the transformative work completed at Cottageville Park, in 2026, MCWD will complete the Gateway to the Greenway, which will serve as the Greenway’s western entrance at the intersection of Lake Street and Blake Road. Construction is planned for next Summer or Fall, and the project is anticipated to be complete by the end of 2026.
LONG LAKE CREEK SUBWATERSHED
Since 2018, MCWD has partnered with the cities of Long Lake, Medina, and Orono, and the Long Lake Waters Association (LLWA) to develop the Long Lake Creek Roadmap, which outlines project opportunities and an implementation strategy to achieve lasting improvements in five impaired lakes.
Constructing the First Roadmap Project
In April 2025, MCWD completed design of the County Road 6 Pond Retrofit in Orono, which will be the first Roadmap project implemented. The retrofit will remove an additional 40 lbs. of phosphorus annually, enhancing the Pond’s effectiveness and improving water quality draining to impaired Long Lake. Construction will begin in January and is expected to last approximately eight weeks.
Downtown Long Lake Feasibility
The Long Lake City Council adopted a resolution of support in May for a feasibility study of regional stormwater treatment opportunities in the City’s downtown area, which contributes the highest pollutant load to Long Lake. “This partnership goes beyond our city, looking at the entire system to determine projects that will improve and protect Long Lake. The feasibility study is a critical next step to identify cost-effective opportunities for measurable, lasting benefits in our community,” said Long Lake Mayor Charlie Miner.
Feasibility began in August and is anticipated to be completed in early 2026. The results will inform project identification and support implementation, to improve water quality in Long Lake.
Engaging with the Community
This Fall, MCWD was grateful for the opportunity to present the Long Lake Creek Roadmap to community members, municipal staff, and elected officials at LLWA’s annual meeting on October 28.
About 85 Subwatershed residents attended and asked questions ranging from water quality trends and current project priorities, to the effectiveness of in-lake treatment strategies and the impacts of land use changes on water resources.
Staff responded to questions, provided updates on active capital projects, and explained the Roadmap’s implementation strategy, which prioritizes addressing external pollutant sources through regional treatment projects before exploring in-lake management strategies, to achieve long-lasting improvements.
SIX MILE CREEK-HALSTED BAY SUBWATERSHED
Over the past decade, MCWD has partnered with communities in the Six Mile Creek-Halsted Bay Subwatershed, the watershed’s headwaters, to integrate local development goals with natural resource preservation, achieving measurable water resource benefits and transformative community spaces. Building on the success of the past decade, with projects like the Wassermann Lake Preserve, MCWD and our partners are moving downstream to explore additional opportunities for regional impact.
Restoring the East Auburn Wetland
In April 2025, MCWD finalized design of the East Auburn Wetland Restoration. Located downstream of Wassermann Lake, this project will remove up to 90 lbs. of phosphorus annually, improving water quality in impaired East Auburn Lake. Alongside the restoration, the City of Victoria will replace the boardwalk crossing the 11-acre wetland, improving safety and enhancing access to the City’s trail system. Construction is anticipated to begin this Winter and last approximately eight weeks.
Planning for Another Decade of Investment
Over the past year, MCWD and the City of Victoria continued to explore opportunities to preserve greenspace as the City develops and improve water quality across the region’s 14-lake system. MCWD continues to advance wetland restoration opportunities in the Turbid-Lundsten Corridor and plans to conduct diagnostic monitoring in Halsted Bay on Lake Minnetonka, to inform future project strategies.
In 2026, MCWD will work with public and private partners to refine project opportunities and support another wave of implementation.
PAINTER CREEK SUBWATERSHED
In 2025, MCWD began diagnostic work in the Painter Creek Subwatershed to identify pollutant sources and inform future project implementation to improve water quality in Painter Creek and impaired bays on Lake Minnetonka: West Arm, Jennings, and Harrisons. MCWD will complete diagnostic work in 2026 to support engagement and planning with the Subwatershed’s communities as part of the 2027 Plan process.
In December, with support from the City, MCWD acquired an 11.4-acre property for sale at 6300 Painter Road in Minnetrista. Located along a ditched section of Painter Creek, the property offers potential for regional water quality improvements in the Creek and downstream.
LWP Project: Morningside Stormwater Improvement
MCWD partnered with the City of Medina on the Morningside Stormwater Improvement Project, a city-led project that received technical and financial support through MCWD’s Land and Water Partnership (LWP) Program. Located upstream of Lake Katrina, the project constructed a stormwater pond to treat runoff from 76 acres, stabilized three ravines to reduce erosion, and reduced 36 lbs. of phosphorus annually to Lake Katrina.
The City began construction in Summer 2025, which is anticipated to be completed in Spring 2026.
MCWD accepts requests for financial or technical assistance for partner-led projects like this one through our LWP Program annually. Eligible partners can apply for project implementation or feasibility support by contacting our Policy Planning staff. Requests for assistance are due February 1 and April 1, respectively.
Visit our website to learn more about the LWP Program, eligibility, and how to apply!
PERMITTING PARTNERSHIPS AND IMPACT
To protect, preserve, and enhance water resources throughout the watershed, MCWD’s Permitting program regulates land disturbances. In 2025, our Permitting team issued 460 permits, resulting in measurable benefits.
Permitting Through Partnership at Burl Oaks Golf Club
MCWD’s permitting process creates windows of opportunity to integrate water resource improvements with landscape changes, delivering benefits to both the built and natural environments. In 2025, a permit with the Burl Oaks Golf Club in Minnetrista exemplified this creative partnership approach.
When the Club submitted a permit application for its course redesign, MCWD discovered an opportunity to integrate water resource protections with landscape improvements, achieving benefits beyond regulatory requirements. By coordinating with Club leadership, the redesign accomplishes their goals to improve accessibility and restores nearly 4 acres of wetland, increasing stormwater treatment, flood storage, and habitat.
“Our plan review and permitting process with the MCWD team was a truly collaborative effort, focused on finding solutions that supported both our golf course design goals and MCWD’s objectives for water quality management and wetland restoration,” said Burl Oaks Board Vice President Dave Link.
Stay tuned in 2026 for an MCWD case study that will tell the full story of this partnership!
STATEWIDE CARP MANAGEMENT STUDY
In October 2025, MCWD and our partners at the MN Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) completed Minnesota’s first statewide assessment of carp management programs, analyzing their effectiveness at improving water quality and aquatic habitat.
Overall, the assessment’s findings demonstrated the effects of carp management are nuanced and dependent on each lake’s unique system. MCWD and other lake managers can use these findings to inform tailored water resource improvement strategies.
“This study would not have been possible without the strong partnership and collaboration between the state, MAISRC, and MCWD. Thanks to everyone involved, these findings will help state agencies and water resource managers set data-driven guidance to focus and prioritize management actions that give us the best chance to protect and restore lakes throughout the state,” said Jeff Strom, a TMDL Writer and Lakes and Eutrophication Expert at the MPCA.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Residents can do their part to improve and protect our water resources by following best practices at home, including Smart Salting this Winter, which aims to reduce the amount of salt entering our waterbodies.
Every fall, residents can also apply to join MCWD’s Citizens Advisory Committee, which advises staff and the Board of Managers on strategy and communications for key initiatives.
As we launch the development of our next 10-year Watershed Management Plan and continue to advance projects, check MCWD’s website to track the 2027 Plan development, project progress, and upcoming public meetings.
