A Continued Investment in Water Quality
To advance our mission of protecting and improving the watershed’s resources, MCWD develops projects that enhance water quality and manage water quantity. Stormwater ponds are a key strategy for improving water quality and water quantity, and must be maintained to ensure their continued function. MCWD, in partnership with the City of St. Louis Park, has scheduled dredging of the Twin Lakes Park Stormwater Pond this Winter, so it can continue providing valuable water quality benefits to the surrounding communities.
Located in St. Louis Park, the Twin Lakes Park Pond was constructed in 1996, and is one of 26 stormwater ponds MCWD maintains. The Pond treats stormwater runoff from the surrounding 1,390 acres to improve water quality in Twin Lakes and Cedar Lake.
Filtering Pollutants Leads to Cleaner Water
Stormwater ponds (or retention basins) serve a clear purpose: improving water quality in their receiving waterbodies. This infrastructure captures runoff that contains sediment, phosphorus, diesel, arsenic, and other pollutants. The ponds hold the water, allowing pollutants to settle out before they can contaminate a connected waterbody.
DATA-DRIVEN MAINTENANCE
To remain functional, stormwater ponds must be dredged regularly, before sediment accumulation reaches 50% of the pond’s wet volume. MCWD recently performed an analysis that determined the Twin Lakes Park Pond is approaching half full and, therefore, due for dredging.
What to Expect
While pond dredging can cause temporary impacts like increased noise and disturbed vegetation, it's critical for the long-term health of a community's water resources. Recognizing our goal of maintaining ecological integrity, MCWD is committed to minimizing impacts on the pond's ecosystem and aquatic life. Since dredging occurs infrequently and is a relatively swift process, the ecosystem and vegetation recover quickly, just in time for spring. Once started, dredging typically takes about 4-6 weeks to complete, depending on the size and depth of the pond.
winter pond dredging
Pond dredging occurs in the winter when the ground is frozen to reduce disturbance of aquatic life and provide a more stable foundation for crews to work on.
dewatering & removal
The pond is dewatered before trucks and heavy machinery remove the accumulated sediment and pollutants and dispose of the material at an appropriate landfill.
A recovered ecosystem
After dredging, the ponds refill themselves. Any disturbed vegetation is restored in the spring, so the ecosystem will make a full recovery.
Reach Out with Questions or Concerns
For questions about the project:
James McDermond-Spies, MCWD Project Maintenance & Land Management Program Manager
Partner Contacts:
City of St. Louis Park: Erick Francis, Water Resources Manager