Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO)
What is the MWMO?
Who are the MWMO member communities?
What does the MWMO do?
Contact Information
Also see:
Additional Watershed Information
Plans, newsletters and other documents
What is the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization?
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of water and the quality of life in the Mississippi River watershed.
The MWMO will provide for the long-term management of its water and associated land resources through the development and implementation of projects, programs, and policies that respect ecosystem principles and reflect changing community values. The MWMO will assist and cooperate with member cities, other government agencies, non-profit agencies, and communities in managing its water resources to achieve this vision:
Who are the MWMO Member Communities?
The MWMO includes the communities of Minneapolis, St. Anthony, St. Paul, Lauderdale as well as the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. These cities and the Park Board have entered into a Joint Cooperative Agreement (JCA) that enables the MWMO to conduct projects and programs with the support of the member communities. The following table depicts how much of the Mississippi River Watershed is under the jurisdiction of the various members.
|
Member |
Percentage of Land in the Mississippi Watershed |
|
City of Minneapolis |
94.3 |
|
City of Saint Anthony |
3.3 |
|
City of Saint Paul |
1.4 |
|
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board |
0.6 |
|
City of Lauderdale |
0.4 |
|
MWMO RESPONSIBILITES |
|
|
Watershed Responsibility |
Local Government Responsibility |
|
Review and approve local water management plans and amendments |
Local water management plan development and amendment |
|
Address inter-community issues |
Address intra-community issues |
|
Develop policies and standards for implementation |
Implement policies and standards through local controls |
|
Develop educational materials and monitoring programs |
Assist in program implementation and distribution of education materials |
|
Develop and implement projects |
Assist in local project implementation |
What does the MWMO do?
The MWMO develops and implements policies, programs, and projects to accomplish its goals. The MWMO does not issue permits or write letters of approval, but it relies on existing governmental policies and approvals to ensure that the water quality is protected. It also utilizes existing community and non-profit organizations to recognize programs that should be implemented and to facilitate those programs. Some goals of the MWMO may require extensive solutions to remedy water quality issues and problems. The MWMO would like to focus on preventative measures to protect the watershed; however, some projects may require structural changes.
Goals of the MWMO:
- Provide opportunities for public outdoor recreation in a way that preserves and enhances the environment
- Work with other organizations to improve surface water quality across watershed boundaries
- Educate watershed communities about redevelopment plans impacting the Mississippi River
- Educate watershed communities about environmental impacts to the Mississippi River
- Preserve, minimize impacts to, and restore natural habitats
- Protect and preserve groundwater quality and quantity
- Enhance public participation in watershed activities
- Protect and enhance the surface water quality
- Preserve and interpret cultural resources
- Protect and restore wetland resources
- Reduce non-point sources of pollution
- Create a continuous river corridor
- Mitigate the effects of drought
- Control soil erosion
- Prevent flooding
Several projects have been identified by the MWMO Watershed Management Plan. These projects are listed below in no particular order.
- Silver Lake Wet Stormwater Detention Basin at 33rd and Emerson Avenue North
- St. Anthony Village Harding Street Storm Water Holding Area
- St. Anthony Village 29th Ave Storm Sewer Reconstruction
- Near Northside/Old Bassett Creek Stormwater Wetlands
- Southeast Minneapolis Industrial Area (SEMI)
- Mississippi River Gorge Habitat Restoration
- Lauderdale’s St. Anthony Drainage District
- Hawthorne Area Community Rain Garden
- St. Anthony Village Floodproofing Grant
- Lauderdale’s Hwy 280 Drainage District
- Eliminate Combined Sewer Overflows
- North Mississippi River Regional Park
- Grain Belt Shoreline Improvements
- West River Parkway Improvements
- St. Anthony Flood Control Project
- Gross Golf Course Improvements
- Upper River Master Plan
- White Water Park
- Edgewater Park
- Aqua Landings
MWMO Mailing Address
250 South 4th St, Rm 414
Minneapolis, MN 55415
MWMO Staff Contacts
Doug Snyder, Project Manager, (612) 673-2698
Jon Steadland, Project Coordinator, (612) 673-2687
MWMO Board
MWMO Commissioner Chair, City of Minneapolis
Joe Biernat
Commissioner, City of St. Paul
Karlyn Eckman
Commissioner, City of Lauderdale
Karen Gill-Gerbig
Commissioner, City of St. Anthony
Amy Sparks
Commissioner, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Jon Olson
Last updated Apr. 6, 2012