Deephaven and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Celebrate Completion of the Montgomerie Avenue Stormwater Project

NEWS RELEASE

Deephaven, Minn. – The City of Deephaven (City) celebrated the completion of the Montgomerie Avenue Stormwater Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday, October 19th, joined by staff and Board members from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), and other project partners. 

The project, led by the City, with support from MCWD’s Land & Water Partnership Program, delivers significant water resource benefits for Deephaven and the region. 

“This is a big project for the City of Deephaven,” said Mayor Kent Carlson. “It’s an accomplishment several years in the making and would not be possible without our strong partnership with the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and the support of Calvary Church, Hennepin County, and the MN Board of Water & Soil Resources.” 

The project included the construction of new stormwater infrastructure at Calvary Church to capture, store, and treat stormwater from over 5 acres, reducing local drainage issues and improving water quality in Lake Louise and Robinson’s Bay downstream. An infiltration basin will reduce annual phosphorus loading by nearly 6 pounds and remove more than 1,000 pounds of suspended sediment each year. 

The project is a testament to the value of early, coordinated planning and partnership. After evaluating drainage and infrastructure needs, in 2023, the City reached out to MCWD with an interest in finding potential water resource improvements that could be integrated with planned infrastructure projects. MCWD and the City partnered on a city-wide assessment of stormwater opportunities, which identified the Montgomerie Avenue project as one of the most cost-effective solutions for improving water quality.

The City began designing the project shortly after and worked with MCWD and other partners to secure the funding needed to move from concept to construction. MCWD provided both technical and financial assistance through its Land & Water Partnership Program, which aims to foster early coordination to integrate water resource improvements into city-led projects. The City was also able to secure a Natural Resources Opportunity Grant from Hennepin County and Watershed-Based Implementation Funding through MN’s Board of Water and Soil Resources, with support from MCWD.

Today, the Montgomerie Avenue Stormwater Project demonstrates how partnering on infrastructure investments can support transportation goals, protect natural resources, and provide broader community benefits.

“We know the best outcomes happen when we partner with our cities toward shared goals,” said Sherry White, President of MCWD’s Board of Managers. “This project is a great example of how local leadership can foster integration between water and land use processes, achieving greater outcomes. We would not be here today if not for the early collaboration and continued partnership with the City of Deephaven.”

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The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) collaborates with public and private partners to protect and improve the 178 square miles of land and water within its boundaries, including Minnehaha Creek, Lake Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and Minnehaha Falls. Through collaborative planning and project implementation, MCWD seeks to create a landscape of vibrant communities across the 27 cities, two townships, and two counties (Hennepin and Carver) within the District. For more information, visit www.minnehahacreek.org.