Watershed organizations are guided by their Watershed Management Plan
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission works with residents, organizations, and its member cities to protect and improve water resources like Bassett Creek and its tributaries, wetlands, ponds, and lakes such as Medicine, Wirth, Twin, Sweeney, Northwood, Lost, Westwood, Parkers, and others.
The Watershed Management Plan is required to be updated every ten years. The BCWMC's Watershed Management Plan sets the vision and guidelines for managing surface water resources within the boundaries of the BCWMC. The BCWMC adopted its current plan, the 2015 Watershed Management Plan, at its September 17, 2015, BCWMC meeting.
Plan Amendments and Updates:
- At their meeting on May 18, 2017, the BCWMC approved revisions to requirements for linear projects and updated floodplain elevations to reflect new data generated through the development of a new XP-SWMM hydrologic model. As such, Appendix H, Tables 2-9 and 2-10, descriptions of waterbodies in Section 2.6.4, and policies 12, 13, and 32 in Section 4 were updated.
- At their meeting on July 20, 2017, the BCWMC adopted a plan amendment to update Table 5-3 (Capital Improvement Program).
- At their meeting on August 16, 2018, the BCWMC adopted a plan amendment to update Table 5-3 (Capital Improvement Program).
- At their meeting on August 20, 2020, the BCWMC adopted a plan amendment to update Table 5-3 (Capital Improvement Program), and to amend some policies related to wetland management in Section 4.0.
- At their meeting on August 19, 2021, the BCWMC adopted a plan amendment to update Table 5-3 ( Capital Improvement Program).
- In 2022, Table 2-9 was updated to incorporate new flood profiles, and Appendix H was updated with new project review fees.
- At their meeting on August 17, 2023, the BCWMC adopted a plan amendment to update Table 5-3 ( Capital Improvement Program).
Final Plan (Adopted Sept 17, 2015 with minor amendments each year)
Plan: Section-By-Section
Plan Executive Summary
Section 1 - Introduction
Section 2 - Land and Water Resource Inventory
- Land and Water Resource Inventory
- Figure 2-1: 2010 Land Use
- Figure 2-2: 2030 Land Use
- Figure 2-3: Average Monthly High & Low Temperatures and Precipitation for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (1981-2010)
- Figure 2-4: Topography
- Figure 2-5: Hydrologic Soil Groups
- Figure 2-6: Generalized Geologic Section
- Figure 2-7: Wellhead Protection Areas
- Figure 2-8: BCWMC Major Subwatersheds and Drainage Patterns
- Figure 2-9: Public Waters Inventory and Public Ditches
- Figure 2-10: National Wetlands Inventory and Biological Survey
- Figure 2-11: Water Quality and Stream Biotic Monitoring Locations
- Figure 2-12: Impaired Waters (per MPCA 303d List)
- Figure 2-13: Watersheds Used in BCWMC P8 Model
- Figure 2-14: Flood Control Project Features
- Figure 2-15: BCWMC Trunk System
- Figure 2-16: FEMA 100-Year Floodplain
- Figure 2-17: Medicine Lake Water Levels and Precipitation
- Figure 2-18: Watersheds Used in BCWMC XP-SWMM Model
- Figure 2-19: Recreational Areas and Public Boat Access
- Figure 2-20: Pollutant Sources
Section 3 - Assessment of Issues and Opportunities
Section 4 - Goals and Policies
Section 5 - Implementation
Section 6 - References
Appendices
- Appendix A - BCWMC Monitoring Plan
- Appendix B - BCWMC Education and Outreach Plan
- Appendix C - Characteristics and Classification of Major BCWMC Waterbodies
- Appendix D - Gaps Analysis
- Appendix E - Results of Public Involvement During Plan Development
- Appendix F - Water Quality Summary
- Appendix G - Joint Powers Agreement
- Appendix H - Requirements for Improvements and Development Proposals
- Appendix I - Boundary Change and Related Legal Documents
- Appendix J - BCWMC Legal Description
History of the Watershed Management Plan
Presentation to BWSR Metro Region Subcommittee
BCWMC Response to Comments
Watershed Plan Workshop Documents
Draft Plan Section 2 – Inventory
April 2014 Watershed Plan Workshop
Previous Results and Communications of the 2014 Watershed Management Plan Planning Process
- 60-Day Plan transmittal letter
- Draft 60-Day Plan - Part 1
- Draft 60-Day Plan - Part 2
- Results of Survey and Ranking of Issues by Residents
- Invitation to June 13, 2013, Watershed Summit
- Presentation from the June 13, 2013, Watershed Summit
- Article - "Wanted: Your Thoughts and Ideas for Lakes and Streams in the Bassett Creek Watershed"
- Issues Identified at Small Group Meetings
- List and Schedule of Small Group Input Meetings held March - June 2013
- Watershed Background for Small Group Meetings
- Small Group Meeting Presentation
- Gaps Analysis prepared by the BCWMC Commission Engineers - December 2013
The Gaps Analysis includes a list of issues and/ or topic areas and subsequent discussion of those issues or topic areas as they relate to the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission Watershed's existing 2004 Watershed Management Plan.