How can you get involved?
- Form or Join a Citizen-Led Group
- Join the Citizen Advisory Committee
- Promote Clean Water for your Home and Yard
Form or Join a Citizen Lead Group - MCWD's Watershed Association Initiative
In September 2006, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and the state-wide nonprofit Minnesota Waters began a unique partnership to carry out MCWD’s Watershed Association Initiative (WAI). MCWD is activating groups of citizens who have come together with the common value of protecting their local water resources. This goal of protecting and preserving local water resources can begin to be achieved through citizen-led groups working with the District. The scientific expertise, organizational capacity development resources, and citizen-led conservation experience that both the MCWD and Minnesota Waters provide are important for a strong start and a sustainable future for lake, stream, and watershed associations. |
 |
|
Goals of the Watershed Association Initiative:
|
|
Join the Citizen Advisory Committee
Each year the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) seeks individuals to serve on its Citizen Advisory Committee. Serving as a CAC member is a great way to help protect and preserve Minnehaha Creek, Lake Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, and other valued resources within the MCWD.
Meetings are held once each month in the evenings throughout the coming year. Currently, the Citizens Advisory Committee is currently involved in the District's Rulemaking Process and meets on the fourth Thursday of every month.
As a Minnehaha Creek Citizen Advisor, you can participate as much as you like by volunteering on activities like these:
- Increase Public Awareness: You could represent the watershed as community events and participate in educational seminars.
- Participate in Development of Watershed Management Policies: You could prepare recommendations for the Board of Managers on long term goals aimed at protecting and enhancing the watershed.
- Advise On Water Quality: You could be our eyes in the community, noticing and reporting threats to water quality. Or, help us educate the community to protect water quality.
- Improve Habitat: You could create ways to locate and prevent the spread of invasive, exotic species or promote the planting of native species.
- Help Improve Stormwater Quality: You can teach neighborhood groups the importance of proper lawn care practices and how this can improve water quality.
- Advise On Projects: You can review District plans for flood protection and water quality protection. We want your suggestions.
Learn more about the MCWD CAC.
Promote Clean Water for your Home and Yard
You can help protect and improve water quality even if you don't live on or near a lake, wetland, or creek (and especially if you do), there are many ways that you can protect and improve water quality without leaving home!
In most urban and suburban areas, your street connects to downstream lakes, wetlands, and streams through the storm sewer system. Water runs off your street and your yard rapidly through storm sewers carrying pollutants collected along the way, directly into our lakes and rivers. So think about it: Because our streets connect directly to the water, we all own waterfront property!
In older neighborhoods (pre mid 1980's), the storm drain goes directly from the street to the downstream water body without any kind of cleaning or other treatment. In newer neighborhoods, stormwater typically goes into a treatment pond, which is generally designed to remove about half the pollution that enters.
Visit MCWD's Clean Water For Your Home and Yard Page.