PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE
MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

On Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 6:45 p.m., the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) Board of Managers will hold a Public Hearing at the Meeting of the Board of Managers concerning the acquisition of approximately 97.02 acres located at 7701 Halstead Drive, Minnetrista.  The property includes prairie, wetland, and savanna restoration opportunities along Six-Mile Marsh which is located in the city of Minnetrista in Hennepin County. The total estimated cost for the property is $2,265,000 plus other valuable consideration. Acquisition would be funded through the ad valorem tax levy established by MCWD. Approximately 4.19% of the ad valorem costs will be allocated to Carver County and 95.81% will be allocated to Hennepin County.  The Board’s meeting will be held at the MCWD Offices, 18202 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55391.  

The acquisition is intended to increase infiltration to reduce runoff volumes carrying pollutant loads to wetlands and waters of the MCWD; to promote groundwater recharge; to restore and protect wetland and upland resources in the Six-Mile Marsh sub-watershed; to protect and improve existing conservation corridors; and to reduce existing flows and negative effects from agricultural drainage on aquatic resources within the MCWD.  If the Managers find that the project will be conducive to public health, promote the general welfare, and is consistent with the MCWD Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan, they will order the acquisition at the May 3, 2012 Board Meeting.  The meeting will be held at the MCWD Offices, 18202 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55391. 

PUBLIC NOTICE

MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

Minn. Stat. §103B.251

On Thursday, April 5 2012, at 6:30 p.m., the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) Board of Managers will hold a public hearing concerning the purchase of approximately 0.19 acres located at 1312 Lake St. NE. Hopkins.  The cost of the acquisition is $179,900.00 to be financed by Hennepin County bond proceeds with repayment through the MCWD’s watershed tax levy.  Approximately 4.19% of the ad valorem costs will be allocated to Carver County and 95.81% of the ad valorem costs will be allocated to Hennepin County.  This acquisition is part of the MCWD’s Land Conservation and Restoration Program, which works with other local units of government, private business and residents to protect water quality and ecological resources within the MCWD.

The hearing will be held at the MCWD Lower Level Meeting Room, 18202 Minnetonka Boulevard, Deephaven, MN 55391.

If you have any questions regarding this meeting, please call James Wisker at 952.641.4509.

At the request of the City of Richfield, this amendment proposes to incorporate into the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s (MCWD) Plan, a capital improvement project for water quality improvements to Taft and Legion Lake.

Please find the draft amendment to the MCWD’s Comprehensive Plan/Capital Improvement Plan attached below entitled: Richfield Draft Plan Amendment.

A 60 day comment period for the amendment was open from January 10, 2012 to March 12, 2012. A public hearing will be held at the Meeting of the Board of Managers on Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 6:45 PM to discuss comments received and provide a forum for additional public comment. The meeting will be located at the MCWD Offices at 18202 MInnetonka Boulevard, Deephaven, MN 55391 in the lower level meeting room. Pending the conclusion of the public hearing, the amendment will be considered for approval by the Board of Water and Soil Resources.

For more information regarding this project, please review the feasibility study attached below entitled 7-19-11_Feasibility Study.pdf. Please contact James Wisker at 952-641-4509/Jwisker@minnehahacreek.org with any questions.

You may notice trucks hauling sediment from stormwater ponds near Twin Lake, Lake Calhoun and Gleason Lake in the next two months. That’s just the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) doing routine maintenance to keep the ponds functional.

Stormwater ponds capture water runoff before it enters lakes and streams, allowing sediment and pollutants to settle to the bottom. The sediment builds up in the ponds and needs to be removed periodically.

This week, the MCWD will begin dredging the stormwater pond near Twin Lake (the lake itself won't be dredged) to remove 2,700 cubic yards of sediment. Later this month, the District will remove 2,200 cubic yards of sediment from the easternmost cell of the Southwest Calhoun Pond. Both ponds were last dredged in 2004.

At Gleason Pond in Plymouth, the District will remove 900 cubic yards of sediment in February. Evergreen trees will be removed for construction access at the intersection of Black Oaks Court North and 13^th Avenue North. The trees will be replaced after the project is completed.

Work on all three ponds should be complete by mid-February. Any disturbed vegetation will be restored in the spring.    

Zebra Mussel Monitoring

Since the discovery of zebra mussels in Lake Minnetonka in July 2010, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) continues to work with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and other agencies as well as local partners to study zebra mussel distribution in Lake Minnetonka and monitor for the presence of the invasive in the other lakes. We need  your help to document if and where this invasive species is located. Read more about what the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is doing as a part of its monitoring program.

Zebra mussels are an invasive species. They are small, fingernail-sized mussels that attach to any solid surfaces in water. Adults are 1/4 to 1 1/2 inches long and have D-shaped shells with alternating yellow and brownish colored stripes. They are now found in parts of Lake Minnetonka. Zebra mussels can reproduce rapidly, limit recreational activities and alter aquatic ecosystems.

What you can do:

As you prepare for winter, you can help by participating in DNR’s zebra mussel monitoring program. Please check for zebra mussels when removing boats, jet skis, water toys, docks, boat lifts, pumps and other equipment. You can report your zebra mussel findings by submitting your results online.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) Board of Managers will hold a Public Hearing at the Meeting of the Board of Managers on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 6:45 p.m. for the Lake Virginia Regional Infiltration Project.

Special Meeting

MCWD Awards Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 3, 2012

5:00 PM

MCWD District Office

18202 Minnetonka Boulevard

Deephaven, MN  55391

The purpose of this meeting is to review potential nominees for the 2012 Watershed Heroes Awards.  Below is a brief explanation of the award categories.  In addition other award-related matters, including the emcee and suggestions on how to improve the program, will be discussed.