These are some frequently asked questions that the MCWD receives on a regular basis. The separate categories will make it easier to locate specific questions.
There are a number of activities that require an MCWD permit. If you can answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, then chances are you will need a permit for your project.
Are you disturbing 5,000 sq ft or 50 cu yds of material?
Are you going to be working within the 100-yr floodplain of a water body?
Are there wetlands present on your property?
Are you going to be dredging?
Are you doing work along a shoreline of along the creek?
Are you crossing a water body?
For more information on various types of projects, see regulated activities below as well as District Required Permits.
There are a few ways to determine whether or not you are located within the district. First, and probably easiest, is to visit our website at http://www.minnehahacreek.org/search_district.php, and type in your property identification number. Another way is to use the Hennepin or Carver county property info websites to search by address. Hennepin County will give you a watershed number; if your number is a 3, then you are in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Carver County will provide a PIN number that you can then use on the MCWD website. The last way is by identifying the city in which you live or would like to start a project. The following cities are completely within the district boundaries:
Excelsior, Greenwood, Long Lake, Minnetonka Beach, Mound, Orono,
Spring Park, St. Bonifacius, Tonka Bay, Victoria, Wayzata, and Woodland.
What types of activities does the District regulate?
In general, we regulate building and construction activities, demolitions, remodels, dredging, shoreline and/or stream bank improvements and alterations, floodplain alteration, the construction of stream or lake bridges and crossings, activities involving wetlands, and stormwater management.
Each project is unique however, and it is important to check which rules may apply before starting.
How many sets of plans do I need to submit?
For smaller projects requiring either a Rule B: Erosion Control or Rule F: Shoreline and Stream bank Improvement permit, one copy of a simple site survey on 11”x17” paper is sufficient. For larger projects that may require multiple permits, one entire set of full size plans should be submitted as well as a set of plans on 11”x 17” paper for filing purposes.
What is the application process?
There are two types of permits at MCWD, the Fast Track and Non-Fast Track. For Fast track permits (Rules B or F), applications are reviewed and then either sent for a second review or more information is requested. Once all materials are submitted, the application is reviewed again and the permit is issued.
For Non-Fast Track applications, the process is much like the one above. These projects usually require a notice period, so applicants must submit mailing labels from their county for all properties within 600’ of the proposed project. These are needed at the time of application submission. After the permit application has been noticed, it is reviewed again and then given conditional approval.
To obtain an MCWD permit, you do not need to have a city permit or approval first. The opposite however may not be true. Some cities require a watershed district permit before they will issue a city permit. Check with your city to be sure. Also keep in mind that cities within the watershed have different rules and regulations and although you may meet the requirements of your city, you may not meet the requirements of the MCWD.
Any permit that involves an exception or a variance always needs Board approval. Projects that have been noticed only need Board approval if a hearing has been requested by the public during the 14-day comment period.
What are the Stormwater Management requirements?
These requirements are based on the property and the proposed land use. In general, there are three aspects that must be addressed:
Water quality – If stormwater runoff will be increased due to new hardcover or impervious surface, 50% of the total phosphorous must be removed from the water
Rate control – there can be no increase in runoff rates for a 1, 10, or 100 year storm event
BMP’s – these best management practices must be permanent and benefit water quality.
What makes a complete application?
A complete application is comprised of three components:
1) A completed Combined Joint Notification Form
2) A $10 application fee (as well as an additional surety for any activities disturbing more than 1 acre of land or any shoreline/stream bank improvement projects).
3) Site plans including all necessary elements (scale, vegetation plan, site elevations and other measurements, erosion control BMP’s, contour lines, various material specs, etc.)
\How and where do I get mailing labels?
Applicants proposing a project that does not fall under fast track status are required to submit mailing labels to the district for notice purposes. These notices are sent to all property owners within 600 feet of the proposed project. Mailing labels can be obtained from your county recorder’s office.
Hennepin County – (612) 348-3050
Carver County – (952) 361-1930
How long does it take to get a permit?
Again, this time can vary for each application we receive. Fast track permits (Rule B or F) are usually reviewed as they come in and could be approved and issued within a week. However if any materials are missing this can substantially delay the review process.
Non-fast track permits (Rules C, D, G, N, and some B and F) need to be reviewed by our permitting officer and district engineer, as well as noticed to surrounding property owners. This entire process could take weeks. If a board hearing is not requested within the 14 day comment period, and all materials are complete, then the permit will be issued.
By law, the MCWD has 15 business days to respond to a permit application, and a decision to deny or approve an application must be made within 45 days of receipt.
In order to ensure that your permit process is as quick as possible, make sure that all of your materials are correct at the time of submission.
Wetlands are areas that are also known as bogs, marshes, cedar swamps, and potholes. They are characterized by wet soils or standing water for part or all of most years. They often have unique soil conditions that differ from adjacent uplands, and they support vegetation, called hydrophytes, that are adapted to the wet conditions. Cattails, wild rice, tamarack, and cedar trees all grow in wetlands. Wetlands are found from the tundra to the tropics and on every continent except Antarctica.
For regulatory purposes under the Clean Water Act, the term wetlands means "those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs and similar areas."
Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem.
What is a wetland delineation?
Many people can tell whether or not they have a wetland on their property. However, delineation is the process by which the actual boundaries of a wetland are determined, or the area between the upland and the wetland. The delineation process looks at 3 criteria to determine where this edge is: soil characteristics (colors), vegetation (plants), and hydrology (water).
Do I need a wetland delineation?
If you are proposing a project that will occur within a wetland itself or close enough to a wetland that damage may be caused, then you will need a wetland delineation.
A buffer is an unmowed and naturally vegetated area adjacent to a wetland that protects the wetland from the effects of nearby development.
Why is my wetland buffer important?
Wetlands act as sponges, preventing flooding, and as filters, cleaning water. With development, wetlands are increasingly lost and the health of those remaining is threatened. Wetland buffers can protect wetlands by intercepting rainfall and melt water from snow, slowing it down, allowing it to trickle into the ground; they can filter pollutants that degrade water in the wetland, and they stabilize soils preventing erosion in the wetland; they provide a place for wildlife to rest, nest, eat, hide and sleep; and provide an area for species diversity.
How do I prevent damage to my wetland buffer?
Avoid mowing and removing naturally occurring vegetation, Keep structures out of the buffer, don’t store wood or brush piles in the buffer area, communicate with landscapers that the buffer area is off limits, install buffer boundary markers like birdhouses, stakes or plow markers.
What pollutants may be trapped in my wetland buffer?
Pollutants such as nutrients from fertilizer application, leaking septic tanks, and manure can be trapped by the wetland buffer and be absorbed by plant roots and microbes in the soil. Other pollutants stick to soil particles that would be trapped in the wetland buffer vegetation.
Can I cut down trees, shrubs and/or vegetation in my wetland buffer?
No. Trees, shrubs and vegetation growing in the area adjacent to the wetland are serving multiple purposes in shoreline stabilization, filtering runoff from adjacent buildings & permanent structures, and providing habitat for wildlife. There should be no cutting, mowing or other disturbance to limit the function of the buffer to maintain it's above listed purposes. If there is a reason for altering the wetland buffer, MCWD must be contacted prior to alteration.
Can I put in a trail to the lake through my wetland buffer?
While appreciation of wetlands and native vegetation is promoted by MCWD, a wetland buffer is an area between adjacent land activity and the wetland free from human disturbance. So, a trail is not allowed through a wetland buffer. The exception to this answer is that if a trail is included as part of a wetland buffer improvement plan presented to the watershed district, it will be considered. Note, if you have a trail in your buffer without an approved wetland buffer improvement plan from MCWD, you may be in violation, and should contact the MCWD immediately.
What does a wetland buffer improvement plan look like?
A wetland buffer improvement plan will be specific to your property. The plan should include projects that increase biodiversity and ecological integrity of the wetland buffer, maintain water quality and flow, and represent minimal disturbance. A plan should include: a narrative about the existing conditions of your wetland buffer; details of the proposed change; benefit of the proposed change, and a map of your property and wetland buffer.
Please visit MCWD's Citizen Involvement Page and Watershed Association Initiative Page.
What is that pond scum type substance in my pond/lake and how do I get rid of it?
Usually lemna, or duck weed, is mistaken for pond scum. Lemna is one of the smallest flowering plants, and so a large accumulation can have the appearance of being scum-like. Actually, duck weed is very important to an aquatic community. Not only does it provide food, shelter, and protection for wildlife, but it also removes phosphates and nitrogen compounds from the water it floats on. This is how duck weed obtains the nutrients necessary for growth.
There really is no easy way to eliminate lemna. The best way would be to discontinue the use of fertilizers, which are considerable contributors of nitrates and phosphates. Other ways include skimming the duck weed off the top of the water body (which in some cases can then be used as feed or fertilizer), draining or dredging the lake, or using a chemical application. These last two methods are extremely drastic however and could have severe effects on water quality.
Pond ‘scum’ is usually a form of freshwater algae that creates a layer on the surface of a water body that is stagnant or slow moving. Two types, filamentous and blue-green, are especially detrimental to lake and pond health. They form thick mats that block out sunlight and don’t allow aquatic plants to perform photosynthesis. Photosynthesis produces oxygen that fish and other aquatic species need to survive. In smaller ponds, aeration could be an effective measure as it provides a constant source of oxygen in the water body, which makes it difficult for algae to grow.
Is it OK to use fountains or aerators in stormwater ponds?
The purpose of stormwater ponds is to allow sediment from stormwater or runoff to settle out of the water. These ponds are then cleaned out when they are filled at least 50% with sediment. Yearly inspections are required to determine the amount of sediment in the pond. The circulation created by aerators and fountains does not allow sediment to settle out of the water properly. Therefore, while fountains and aerators may have other water quality benefits, they should not be used in stormwater ponds, which were built for the purposes of settling sediment.
How is the dam at Grays Bay operated?
The Grays Bay dam, which lies at the eastern edge of Lake Minnetonka and the headwaters of Minnehaha Creek, is operated under a policy that was developed from guidelines set by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. For more information on the policy, click here: HeadwatersPolicyandOperatingProcedures
Where on the website can I find out the water quality of my lake/stream?
On the left side of the webpage, go to "Technical Information", then "Water Quality", "Report Cards."(This only gives info for lakes, not streams). If you want to know more about the creeks and/or streams, the info is more detailed and technical, but can be found in the "Water Quality" section under "Comprehensive Hydrologic Data" broken down by years.
How can I get a copy of the Minnehaha Creek Canoe Route or Lake Minnetonka Map?
There are four ways to obtain a copy of our maps. You can call our office at 952-471-0590 and ask to have one sent to you, or you can send us an email at admin@minnehahacreek.org with your address. You can also visit http://www.minnehahacreek.org/watershedrec.php or http://www.minnehahacreek.org/Lake_Minnetonka_Yesterday_and_Today.php and download a map. And lastly, you can stop by our office and pick one up in person!
If your lake is not listed on this list please call the MCWD Water Quality Department at 952-471-0590 ext. 228.
Organizations Monitoring Lakes with MCWD
CAMP Program |
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MPCA Surface Water Monitoring Information:
Met Council:
DNR Lakefinder
How are lake grades established?
In order to establish lake grades MCWD tests for three parameters Phosphorous, and Chlorophyll A, and Secchi Disk Reading.
Chlorophyll: is a green pigment in plants that transforms light energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis
Phosphorous: Key nutrient influencing plant growth in lakes. Soluble reactive phosphorus (PO4-3) is the amount of phosphorus in solution that is available to plants.
Secchi Disk Reading in Meters: The Secchi disk is a 20 cm (8 inch) diameter weighted metal plate with alternating quadrants painted black and white that is used to estimate water clarity (light penetration).
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