Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
{{Short description|Hennipen County Minnesota drainage basin}}
{{Multiple issues|{{Tone|date=December 2022}}
{{Refimprove|date=February 2024}}}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
| type = Watershed District
| seal = MCWD Logo White.jpg
| seal_size =
| seal_caption =
| seal_alt =
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_caption =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| formed = {{Start year|1967}}
| preceding1 =
| preceding2 =
| dissolved =
| superseding1 =
| superseding2 =
| agency_type =
| jurisdiction =
| status =
| headquarters = 15320 Minnetonka Blvd, Minnetonka, MN 55345
| coordinates =
| motto =
| employees =
| budget =
| minister_type =
| minister1_name =
| minister1_pfo =
| minister2_name =
| minister2_pfo =
| deputyminister_type =
| deputyminister1_name =
| deputyminister1_pfo =
| deputyminister2_name =
| deputyminister2_pfo =
| chief1_name =
| chief1_position = James Wisker
| chief2_name =
| chief2_position =
| parent_department =
| parent_agency =
| parent_agency_type =
| child1_agency =
| child2_agency =
| keydocument1 =
| website = {{URL|https://minnehahacreek.org/}}
| agency_id =
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| map_alt =
| footnotes =
| embed =
}}
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is a watershed district in Minnesota with a mission to collaborate with public and private partners to protect and improve land and water for current and future generations.{{Cite web |title=About MCWD |url=https://minnehahacreek.org/about-the-district/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) |language=en-US}} The Minnehaha Creek in its name refers to the water link from Lake Minnetonka to the Mississippi River. The watershed is much larger than a lake or creek, and includes 29 communities, and encompasses {{convert|178|sqmi|km2}}. It stretches west from roughly Minnehaha Falls to Saint Bonifacius and north to Maple Plain. It includes 129 lakes and 8 major creeks in Hennepin and Carver counties. Some of the lakes in the district are Bde Maka Ska, Harriet, Nokomis, Parley, Minnewashta and Katrina.
The District's office is located in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Its leadership is made up of seven Board Members and a Citizen Advisory Committee. The current District Administrator is James Wisker.{{Cite web |title=Our Team |url=https://minnehahacreek.org/about-the-district/our-people/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) |language=en-US}}
History
Through collaborative planning, aligned investments, streamlined permitting, technical expertise and educating/engaging residents, the MCWD seeks to create a landscape of vibrant communities within the watershed. Established in 1967, the MCWD was created under the Minnesota Watershed District Act of 1955. The act charged watershed districts with integrating water management efforts among city, county and state agencies.{{Cite web |title=Sec. 103D.201 MN Statutes |url=https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/103D.201 |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.revisor.mn.gov}} Districts receive funding through local property taxes.
A 2012-13 outreach event and vulnerability assessment conducted by the MCWD concerning flooding response and stormwater management garnered recognition as a case study by the EPA's Adaptation Resource Center (ARC-X).{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OP |date=2016-04-15 |title=Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability |url=https://www.epa.gov/arc-x/minnehaha-mn-creek-watershed-district-assesses-stormwater-management-climate-vulnerability |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Watershed Protection Organizations Serve as Catalysts for Adaptation Planning {{!}} U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit |url=https://toolkit.climate.gov/case-studies/watershed-protection-organizations-serve-catalysts-adaptation-planning |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=toolkit.climate.gov |language=en}}
The watershed drew public attention in April 2014 from a 4-3 board decision to fire long-serving administrator Eric Evenson-Marden.{{Cite web |last=McAuliffe |first=Bill |last2=Tribune |first2=Star |title=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District head ousted |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnehaha-creek-watershed-district-head-ousted/256789611/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Star Tribune}} Concerns were raised after the firing about transparency and personal infighting, which spurred city mayors within the district to request the taping of committee meetings.{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Kelly Smith Star |title=Firing of Twin Cities watershed chief leads to backlash, questions |url=https://www.startribune.com/firing-of-twin-cities-watershed-chief-leads-to-backlash-questions/278451571/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Star Tribune}}{{Cite web |last=Tribune |first=Kelly Smith Star |title=Minnehaha Creek Watershed District looks to move forward with a new leader after controversy |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnehaha-creek-watershed-district-looks-to-move-forward-with-a-new-leader-after-controversy/287732511/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Star Tribune}} Lars Erdahl was selected as a successor in another 4-3 vote in January 2015.{{Cite web |title=Erdahl approved to lead Minnehaha Creek Watershed District |url=https://www.startribune.com/erdahl-approved-to-lead-minnehaha-creek-watershed-district/290334481/ |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=Star Tribune}}
References
External links
- [http://www.minnehahacreek.org/ Minnehaha Creek Watershed District]
{{Coord|44|56|18|N|93|28|25|W|display=title}}
Category:Geography of Minnesota