2027 Watershed Management Plan
Join Us to Plan for the Watershed’s Future
Since 1967, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has partnered with communities to create lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits. Our 2017 Watershed Management Plan (Plan) introduced a vision for a Balanced Urban Ecology, rooted in the belief that integrating land and water planning is essential to protecting and improving our water resources.
Over the past decade, working with our partners, we have accomplished significant strides for the region’s water, while creating vibrant places that allow residents to connect with nature.
Connect with Us to Learn More
Becky Christopher,
Director of Policy Planning
1,200
pounds
nutrient pollution reduction
112
acres
restored wetlands and habitat
10,700
feet
restored shoreline and streambank
300
acres
new publicly accessible greenspace
3
miles
new trails and boardwalk
What’s Coming in the 2027 Plan
Today, our watershed is facing new challenges.
A changing climate is driving more frequent and intense rainfall, increasing flood risk across the watershed. Historic land use practices that filled wetlands, ditched stream channels, and paved natural spaces have exacerbated our communities’ vulnerability to flooding. With the region projected to continue growing and developing over the next decade, changing weather patterns could put more strain on our natural and built systems.
The 2027 Plan is our opportunity to respond to these challenges together.
A New Era of Integrated Planning
Building on the past 10 years of impact, MCWD’s 2027 Plan represents a renewed commitment to delivering a vision of Balanced Urban Ecology through integrated planning and partnership, to address new threats facing the watershed.
To continue expanding our impact, our next Plan will incorporate flood resilience into our approach, to help our communities adapt to a wetter future.
We’ll convene communities across the region to assess vulnerabilities, identify shared priorities, and evaluate project and policy strategies to develop a cohesive, watershed-scale flood adaptation strategy. Working with our partners, we’ll create implementation plans to promote resilient systems, deliver meaningful water quality improvements, and support thriving, sustainable communities for years to come.
Learn More at Our Plan Kickoff Event!
Thank you to everyone who attended the Plan Kickoff Event on Tuesday, January 27, 2026! We were grateful for the opportunity to convene our partners and celebrate all that we have accomplished together, while setting the stage for another impactful decade.
For those who were unable to attend, slides and a recording of the event’s presentation are available for review below.
Share Your Perspective
Meeting tomorrow’s challenges requires a coordinated plan developed for and by our partners across the watershed. We need our communities’ help to shape this work and ensure we’re all striving toward a common goal.
To develop a Plan that aligns with the needs and priorities of our communities, MCWD has appointed staff and policymakers at cities, counties, soil and water conservation districts, and park agencies within the watershed to serve on Technical and Policy Advisory Committees for the Plan process. More information on Committee membership and meeting details is available at the links below.
Get Involved
Residents are invited to engage in the Plan process in several ways!
- Join our Citizens Advisory Committee.
- Attend public meetings and open houses.
- Subscribe to our newsletters.
- Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Check back for more! We’ll be updating this page throughout the process with more information and new ways to get involved.