Partnerships

The City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) cooperates with local watersheds, MnDOT, neighboring cities, and the Metropolitan Council in stormwater management efforts. This cooperation includes:

Funding for watershed organizations come from direct taxation against properties in their jurisdiction, or from annual contributions from member cities based on respective area located within watershed boundaries and tax capacity within the watershed.

Watershed Management Organizations and Districts

Together, the City of Minneapolis and the Watershed Management Organizations:

  • Perform a joint review of construction projects before permits are issued.
  • Review and approve any new outfalls (where stormwater is emptied into surface water).
  • Cooperate to enforce erosion control regulations and ordinances.
  • Share the costs for constructing water quality controls that use Best Management Practices (BMPs).

Bassett Creek Water Management Commission (BCWMC) requires stormwater management, erosion control practices and floodplain management for redevelopment projects that are 5 acres and greater in area. The City of Minneapolis contributes approximately $16,000 per year to their operating budget.

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) focuses on funding water quality capital improvement projects, as well as public education programs. Rather than provide separate project review and approval, MWMO delegates stormwater management requirements for new developments to its member cities. The funding for this organization comes from direct taxation against properties in their jurisdiction.

Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission (SCWMC) reviews plans of land development near lakes, wetlands, or natural waterways or within the 100-year floodplain. SCWMC also reviews plans for single-family detached housing, 15 acres or larger, or other land uses 5 acres or larger. For such developments, SCWMC requires erosion protection for new construction. Also required are detention and treatment on site, or demonstration that adequate detention and treatment is available in a regional or other facility. The City of Minneapolis contributes approximately $12,000 per year to their operating budget.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) works to protect existing natural resources, requires stormwater management practices on new constructions projects, provides water quality education, and funds water quality improvement projects. MCWD administers state mandated wetland protection rules and DNR regulations, as well as District rules on erosion control (land disturbance of 5000 square feet or greater), floodplain alteration, wetland protection, dredging, shoreline and stream bank improvements, stream and lake crossings, and stormwater management. The MCWD receives revenue through direct taxation against properties within their jurisdiction.

Highway Departments

  • Hennepin County has jurisdiction over 83.5 miles of roadways in Minneapolis. Maintenance of these roadways and storm drainage structures is provided by Minneapolis Public Works through an annual maintenance agreement.
  • MnDOT has jurisdiction over 46.3 miles of streets and highways in Minneapolis. Projects that include new storm drains are typically constructed through cooperative agreements between MnDOT and the City of Minneapolis. Minneapolis funds a portion of these projects based on the percentage of local runoff (from City property) draining to the new structures.

Neighboring Cities

Since watersheds encompass all areas that drain to the same body of water, they usually include multiple communities. The City of Minneapolis and neighboring cities (including: Richfield, Edina, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Columbia Heights, St. Anthony, Roseville, Lauderdale and St. Paul) cooperate and coordinate efforts when managing stormwater related activities in common drainage areas.

Most coordination with neighboring cities is accomplished through the structure of watershed management organizations or watershed districts. However some cooperative projects in have been accomplished outside of the watershed structure. Examples include:

  • Establishing responsibilities for mutually agreed upon BMPs protecting common surface waters by adopting cooperative agreements.
  • Monitoring water quality for common receiving waters.
  • Working together to fund and complete water quality projects.

Metropolitan Council

The City of Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Council cooperate in controlling private discharges to the storm and sanitary drainage systems. Permits are required for industrial and construction discharges that are jointly reviewed. Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Council are also joint permit holders for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit that regulates Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) into the Mississippi River.

The Urban Small Sites Best Management Practices (BMPs) Manual provides detailed stormwater management and BMP information for the designer, builder and owner of small sites in fully developed areas such as Minneapolis. This manual was developed and funded in partnership with the Metropolitan Council, and other local agencies in the Twin Cities area.