Zebra mussels were discovered by a local resident on July 27, 2010,  and confirmed by DNR biologists on July 28, 2010. DNR, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District field staff and Lake association staff conducted an extensive shoreline survey on Lake Minnetonka in the week following the discovery, and confirmed the presence of young (less than one year old) zebra mussels at 10 of 48 sites checked on the lake (See map).

The following is a list of MCWD lakes. The lakes that have been or are currently being monitored have recieved a lake water quality grade. The lake water quality grades have been posted for the past ten years.

For more information on the lake water quality grades go to Understanding Lake Water Quality Grades.

The following is a list of MCWD lakes. The lakes that have been or are currently being monitored have recieved a lake water quality grade. The lake water quality grades have been posted for the past ten years.

For more information on the lake water quality grades go to Understanding Lake Water Quality Grades.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s water quality lake grading method was developed in 1989. The lake grade shows how one lake measures up compared to other area lakes and indicates the perceived condition of the open water. Three water quality measurements are combined to create each lake grade. However, there are also other factors that contribute to lake condition, including precipitation. aquatic plants, fisheries, harmful chemicals, and over-use.

The following is a list of MCWD lakes. The past and current lake water quality monitoring sites are posted.

The following is a list of MCWD streams. The past and current stream water quality monitoring sites are posted.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District compiles water quality monitoring data for lakes and streams in an annual monitoring report. The information and data used to calculate water quality lake grades are included in the yearly report. The official title of MCWD’s monitoring reports is the Annual Hydrological Monitoring Report.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) has two ISCO stormwater monitoring stations along Minnehaha Creek that collect water samples during storms. Runoff from streets entering the stream increases nutrient, sediment, and bacteria pollution.

In 2007, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) installed telemetry equipment at three locations along Minnehaha Creek, including the Grays Bay outfall in Wayzata, I-494 and Minnetonka Blvd. intersection in Minnetonka, and Browndale Dam located in Edina. Water levels are monitored at these three locations.  The data from Grays Bay and I-494 are transmitted over a phone line to the MCWD office and the data from Browndale Dam is manually downloaded. 

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) maintains and operates tipping bucket precipitation gauging stations at seven locations throughout the watershed district. In addition, there are three citizen precipitation recorders who record data. The precipitation data are published in our annual Hydrological Data Report and will be available in the MCWD Water Quality Database.