History: The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission has requested a special levy of $1,346,815 for two water quality and quantity improvement projects. The first project, The Bassett Creek Park Pond Phase I Dredging Project: Winnetka Pond (City of Crystal) will remove sediment from the pond and establish a native buffer around much of the pond. The project will improve habitat for wildlife, provide flood control, and reduce pollutants entering Bassett Creek and downstream water bodies. The second project, the Main Stem Channel Erosion Repair Project, will stabilize streambanks to reduce erosion along Bassett Creek near the Fruen Mill and downstream from Cedar Lake Road to the entrances to two tunnels that carry Bassett Creek through Minneapolis to its confluence with the Mississippi River. The project will reduce water pollution and improve habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The county board established the maximum levy to cost-share with member cities on two water quality and quantity improvement projects at $1,346,815 (Resolution 17-0232).

The Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission has requested a special levy of $159,075 to support best management practice cost-share programs that distribute funds to cities and private entities throughout the watershed for projects that provide additional stormwater infiltration and water quality treatment by retrofitting best management practices into already developed areas.  The county board established the maximum levy to fund one water quality project and best management practice cost-share programs at $295,000 (Resolution 17-0231). Since that time, the water quality project has been withdrawn.

The West Mississippi Watershed Management Commission has requested a special levy of $104,800 to fund one water quality project and to support a best management practice cost-share program. The Mississippi Crossings Rain Garden Project (City of Champlin) will construct two large bio infiltration basins to treat runoff in the old town center areas before it enters the Mississippi River. The best management practice cost-share program will provide funding to cities for projects that provide additional infiltration and water quality treatment by retrofitting best management practices into already developed publicly-owned areas throughout the watershed. The county board established the maximum levy to fund one water quality project and the cost-share program at $104,800 (Resolution 17-0231).

The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission has requested a special levy of $437,500 for three water quality projects. The first project, the Fox Creek Streambank Stabilization Project Phase 3 (City of Rogers), previously referred to as the Fox Creek at Hyacinth Restoration Project, will stabilize approximately 3,000 linear feet of streambank to reduce pollution from streambank erosion and improve habitat for fish and other aquatic life. The Mill Pond Fishery and Habitat Restoration Project (City of Champlin) will remove material from the bottom of the pond to improve habitat for fish and restore natural stream and lake aquatic species. The Rain Garden at Independence Avenue Project (City of Champlin) will infiltrate stormwater from a watershed of approximately nine acres. The rain garden will reduce pollutants from entering Elm Creek. The county board established the maximum levy for four water quality projects at $490,000 (Resolution 17-0233). Since that time, one water quality project has been withdrawn.

The projects proposed by the watersheds will be paid for by a special levy authorized pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 103B.251 and such levies are exempt from any statutory limitation on taxes. A county levying a tax under Minnesota Statutes section 103B.251 shall not include that tax in the county’s general levy but shall separately certify that amount to the County Auditor. The County Auditor shall extend that levy as a special taxing district.

Current Request: This request establishes the 2018 special levy for two water quality projects in the Bassett Creek Watershed at $1,346,815; establishes the 2018 special levy for support of best management practice cost-share programs in the Shingle Creek Watershed at $159,075; establishes the 2018 special levy for one water quality project and to support a best management practice cost-share program in the West Mississippi Watershed at $104,800; and establishes the 2018 special levy for three water quality projects in the Elm Creek Watershed at $437,500.

Impact/Outcomes: The special levies will fund projects that will improve water quality and stream habitat of Bassett Creek, Fox Creek, Elm Creek, and downstream resources like the Mississippi River; improve flood control in the area surrounding Winnetka Pond; improve fish habitat of Mill Pond; create pollinator habitat; and support best management practice cost-share projects to improve the quality of water resources in the Shingle Creek and West Mississippi watersheds.