Media Notice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2-17-03

DEEPHAVEN, MN., -- February 17, 2003 – The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) and the City of Plymouth announced that an emergency pumping plan is now in place to reduce water levels on Mooney Lake should spring snowmelt and rains result in water levels on the lake exceeding an elevation of 990.0-feet. The MCWD is seeking a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit to finalize the plan before the end of the month.

Last fall, after heavy rains saturated the area, the MCWD and Plymouth instituted emergency pumping on the lake as flood waters encroached on private property. Mooney Lake has no natural outlet. Emergency pumping was terminated on December 3, 2002 due to ice buildup and safety concerns after two months of continuous pumping from September 30 to December 3. Water was pumped from the southeast bay of Mooney Lake through an above-ground pipe and into a ditch along the north side of County Road 6 that drains into Pinetree Pond in Plymouth. 

“The pumping reduced the risk of structural flooding of homes,” notes Eric Evenson, MCWD Administrator. “The water level of the lake at the end of the pumping was approximately elevation 990.0-feet, which was 1.2-feet (14-inches) lower than when pumping began. At an elevation of 990.0-feet, the water level of the lake is at a point where the annual risk of structural flooding is less than one-percent.  A recent water level measurement taken near the end of January showed that the water level in the lake had dropped another 1.4-feet (17-inches) and was at an elevation of 988.6-feet.  With the lake at this elevation, if we have a normal spring there should be little risk of structural flooding.  However, we need to be prepared in case we have a wet spring and water levels on Mooney Lake again rise above elevation 990.0-feet.”

According to Evenson, the plan for spring pumping will be similar to the plan that was implemented last fall that would pump water from the southeast bay of Mooney Lake via above-ground pipe and ditch into Pinetree Pond. From Pinetree Pond, the water flows through a conveyance system of ponds, lakes, and wetlands, which are part of the stormwater drainage systems within the cities of Plymouth and Wayzata. Eventually it will reach Wayzata Bay on Lake Minnetonka.

The MCWD and City of Plymouth have also agreed to look into the possibility of permanently installing electrical power supply and underground conveyance pipes to accommodate future emergency pumping.  The study would evaluate potential routes and determine associated project costs.  According to Evenson, due to time constraints and funding issues, it is not possible to have a permanent infrastructure system in place prior to initiating spring pumping, if required.  

For more than 33 years, MCWD has monitored and investigated the lakes and streams that feed Minnehaha Creek across two counties and 29 cities and towns, from the upper watershed North and West of Lake Minnetonka to the Lake itself, through the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes, to Minnehaha Creek and Minnehaha Falls. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed, working in partnership with cities, townships, and citizen groups, has helped to improve the water quality in most of the lakes and streams in the watershed.  Recent lake and wetland restoration projects include: Gleason Creek, Long Lake, Painter Creek, Twin Lakes/Cedar Lake, Lake Calhoun, Pamela Park, and others.

The MCWD designs and builds projects to protect water resources including, lake restoration, wetland enhancement, erosion repair, and flood control. The District also coordinates cities, counties, park districts, developers, and others within watershed boundaries for compatible and efficient water resource management. The autonomous government body is funded by small additions to property taxes from those households in the District that benefit from water resource management, with occasional interim funding from cities, counties and the state. The District is also funded through special levies. Its website address and telephone numbers are: www.minnehahacreek.org; 952-471-0590.

For more information, please contact Martin Keller at 612-729-8585, or online at kelmart@aol.com