Best Practice Action 19.1
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Surface Water No. 19
Improve local water bodies to sustain their long-term ecological function and community benefits.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 1
Consistently monitor surface water quality/clarity and report findings to community members.
- Learn more about the MPCA Citizen Lake and Citizen Stream Monitoring Programs and how community members can participate.
- 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.
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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. |
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Post on the city website water quality/clarity data (or a link to data) available for the city/city’s watershed. |
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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. |
Who's doing it
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
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).
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Olivia Dorow Hovland (City Staff) | odorowhovland@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6458
Partners:
Savage -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2000
Implementation details:
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.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: Eagle Creek Monitoring Station: https://eims.metc.state.mn.us/Site/EA0008
Credit River Monitoring Station: https://eims.metc.state.mn.us/Site/CR0009
For more information contact:
Jesse Carlson (City Staff) | jcarlson@cityofsavage.com | 9528822686
Partners: Metropolitan Council, Scott Soil and Water Conservation District
West Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2018 plan published
Implementation details:
Local Surface Water Management Plan (Of 2040 plan)
Assessments and monitoring in stormwater basins and local ponds/lakes; See comprehensive plan
Assessments and monitoring in stormwater basins and local ponds/lakes; See comprehensive plan
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://www.wspmn.gov/Search?searchPhrase=2018+Local+Surface+Water+Management+Plan+(pdf)
For more information contact:
Kristy Otte (Community Volunteer) | dr.otte2013@gmail.com | 6512076303
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Daniel Petrik, Land Use Specialist, MN Dept. of Natural Resources: 651/259-5697, Daniel.Petrik@state.mn.us