The Blue Water Commission: Grass Roots Neighborhood Approach

In recent years, neighborhood surveys in the Lake Nokomis area determined that the water quality in Lakes Nokomis and Hiawatha was one of the primary concerns for area residents. As a result, the Blue Water Commission (BWC) was conceived in 1996 by three Minneapolis neighborhoods-- Hale Page Diamond Lake, Nokomis East, and Standish Ericsson.

The BWC consisted of representatives from the three neighborhoods; the Cities of Minneapolis and Richfield; the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board; the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District; Hennepin County; the Metropolitan Airports Commission; and environmental groups. Technical assistance to support the BWC was provided by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, the Minneapolis Parks & Recreation Board, and a Technical Advisory Committee.

The Blue Water Commission completed its work by publishing a final report in May 1998, “Blue Water Commission Report and Recommendations for the Management of Lake Nokomis and Hiawatha.”

The BWC was funded by Minneapolis’ Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP) and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. From November 1997 through May 1998, the BWC identified the following water problems and concerns:

• Swimmability
• Fishability
• Aesthetics
• Diversity of plants and wildlife
• Shoreline environment

BWC goals aimed to eliminate nuisance algae blooms, protect public health, balance aquatic diversity with human enjoyment, provide a better fish and wildlife habitat, and provide for a more natural transition from the land to the lakeshore.

To accomplish these goals for Lake Nokomis, specific recommended actions include:

• Removing carp, modifying the outlet structure, building three wetland settling ponds, installing grit chambers, providing a lake-wide alum application, street sweeping, and implementing phosphorus fertilizer restrictions.

For Lake Hiawatha:

• Wetland settling ponds have been installed at the Hiawatha Golf Course. A beach curtain is recommended to improve swimming conditions.

Other long-term actions include street sweeping, managing the upstream watershed, and implementing phosphorus fertilizer restrictions.