Cities can reach out to find volunteers from schools/colleges, seniors, service/environmental groups, and can organize a community-wide event to collect stream/river samples.
Water quality data is available from many sources including:
Confirm that a governmental entity (watershed district/organization, county, MPCA, DNR, MDH) is routinely sampling water quality/clarity in at least one location within the city/city’s watershed.
Post on the city website water quality/clarity data (or a link to data) available for the city/city’s watershed.
Recognize on the city website at least one person who is a volunteer water monitor, and assure that they are routinely sampling a river or lake or wetland in at least one location within the city/city’s watershed and sending results to the MPCA; include water quality data and descriptive narrative relevant to proposed projects that will be located in shoreland areas in staff reports for all land use applications (variances, CUPs, plats/PUDs, etc.).
Who's doing it
Burnsville - 3 star
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2018
Implementation details:
There are eight lakes within the City of Burnsville that are monitored by volunteers through the Metropolitan Council’s Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). The volunteers collect water samples and water clarity and temperature data. The results are posted on Burnsville's website: https://www.burnsvillemn.gov/1598/Monitoring
Our wastewater treatment facility volunteers to monitor 3 surface water sites through MPCA. These sites are monitored for clarity and other factors of quality. Samples are taken which are tested for pH and BOD. These findings are available on the MPCA website under Lake and stream water quality data.
Plymouth has a long history of monitoring surface water quality (since 2000 for some sites) and reports this information in our annual Surface Water Monitoring Report in June of each year for the prior year.
Throughout the St. Cloud area, several different watersheds are routinely monitored for water quality purposes. According to the Sauk River Watershed District (SRWD), "The SRWD conducts water chemistry sampling and water flow/discharge measurements on several locations throughout the Sauk River, in addition to a handful of primary tributaries to the river. The SRWD also collects water chemistry samples from several lakes each year, above and beyond working with lake associations who wish to collect water quality data." This lets SRWD track, evaluate, and utilize water quality data. The Mill Creek Drainage Area is of particular importance due to its potential to impact St. Cloud's drinking water. They monitor regularly for phosphorus, suspended solids, nitrate, nitrite, and TKNs concentrations, which all affect water quality. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) monitors similar water quality data. Thanks to this monitoring, the MPCA has seen success in restoring water quality in streams, rivers, and lakes. Lake George, in St. Cloud, was removed from the Impaired Waters List due to the lowering of nutrient levels and the implementation of underground stormwater treatment.
Water quality data for local water quality improvement projects is accessible on the City of St. Cloud's website. These projects include the Lake George Water Quality Improvement Project, the Northeast Sediment Reduction Project (which improved water quality in the Mississippi River), the Whitney Streambank Restoration Project (Sauk River), and the High Banks Ravine Project (Mississippi River). Water quality data and updates can be found on St. Cloud's website.
Partners: Sauk River Watershed District; Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Benton County Soil and Water Conservation; Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District; Central Minnesota Water Education Alliance
The Beltrami County Soil and Water Conservation District does consistent monitoring of quality and clarity of surface water within the watershed. The community of Bemidji also has volunteers that record water clarity metrics and report them to the MPCA.
The Coon Creek Watershed District and the Anoka Conservation District conduct monitoring/sampling in the city. We also have a lake area association (private residents) that monitor and perform projects on Crooked Lake (funded by the residents, grants, and cities of Andover & Coon Rapids).
Annually participate in Met Council's Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program; contract for lake water quality monitoring annually; cooperate with RPBCWD to monitor water quality on Purgatory and Riley Creeks.
In partnership with our 2 watershed districts governing regions within City boundaries, the Nine-mile Creek Watershed District and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District provide and continuously document water quality and clarity monitoring data which is available to the public on each of the District's websites. Annual water monitoring reports are published each year and are made accessible to the public.
The City began monitoring the water quality in McColl Pond in 2020 and the City has been monitoring 4 stormwater ponds throughout the City starting in 2019. The Credit River and Eagle Creek are currently monitored by the Metropolitan Council since the early 200s. The City will evaluate the water quality data to help guide future decisions regarding the management and protection of its water resources.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
The continuous monitoring at Eagle Creek and Credit River shows long-term water quality trends regarding stream flows and chlorides, which may make the City realize how changes in land use or land use practices might be impacting overall stream health, etc.