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Chanhassen residents value the natural environment, especially their water bodies. The way each person manages their land affects the natural environment for everyone. The following information is designed to help you and your neighbors maintain, restore, and manage Chanhassen’s surface water resources.

Managing Water Run-Off

Stormwater run-off is the number one source of water pollution. This is according to the 1996 National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress. Urbanization leads to increased run-off volumes and rates as there is no way for precipitation to infiltrate through these impervious surfaces. As a result, we are seeing accelerated stream flows, stream bank and shoreline erosion, and a decline in aquatic habitat. This also leads to increased stormwater run-off pollutant loads and concentrations.

The pollutants most commonly associated with stormwater run-off that enter our surface and groundwater include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, oils, heavy metals, salt, sediment, and pathogens. These accumulate on driveways, parking lots, sidewalks, and other hard surfaces and are transported with the stormwater run-off.

The City of Chanhassen has adopted the Stormwater Program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) to combat these stormwater run-off issues. This system intends to reduce the pollutant load on water resources from storm sewer systems to the “maximum extent practicable.” Stormwater discharges are regulated through National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Through this permit, Chanhassen, as an owner/operator of a storm sewer system, must develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) that uses a variety of best management practices (BMPs) to achieve this goal.

There are a variety of practices available to manage stormwater depending upon a variety of factors. What is the management goal? What are the site conditions like? How large is the watershed area? What are the downstream receiving waters? These questions should be considered when deciding which practice or practices to use. Best management practices generally fall into three categories: detention, filtration, and infiltration.

Additional information about best management practices can be found in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual.

Benefits of Trees as Stormwater Management Techniques

• Connection Between Trees and Water
• Center for Urban Forest Research Fact Sheet
• How Tree Canopies Affect Run-off Volume
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Rain Gardens

A rain garden is designed to use rain and stormwater run-off from adjacent structures. Rain gardens differ from other types of gardens in that soils are engineered, and plants are specifically selected to mimic a healthy forest.

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels collect and store rainwater from a rooftop for later use. Residential rain barrel designs are easy to make yourself. They typically have an opening at the top to allow water from the downspout to enter, a lid, an overflow pipe, and a spigot at the bottom of the barrel.

Pervious Pavement

Pervious pavement allows rainwater to infiltrate the ground before running into the storm drainage system. This technique may be used for low-speed and traffic areas such as walkways, patios, plazas, driveways, and parking lots.

Minnesotans take great pride in their green lawns, but did you know there are ways to achieve a perfect lawn without harming the surrounding environment?

Lawn Care and Water Conservation

• Only water in the morning or evening when the temperature is cool. When it is hot outside, water will evaporate quickly.
• Don’t discharge your lawn wastes into the storm sewer.
• Cover exposed soil. Seeding an area of soil will help prevent erosion and weeds. Spread seed in the spring to allow for natural watering. Mulch is helpful in areas with high shade and around trees.
• Mow your grass higher. Set your lawn mower at 3 inches. This will prevent weeds from growing and keep your grass greener. Lawn trimmings should stay on your lawn through composting, not deposited into the streets.

 Lawn Care and Fertilizer

• One pound of phosphorus in the water can cause 500 pounds of algae growth.
• Minnesota soils contain enough phosphorus to keep lawns healthy.
• Too much phosphorus causes algae growth in lakes, ponds, and streams. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are harmful and contain toxins or other noxious chemicals that can cause health risks to pets, livestock, and people.
• The middle number of the three on a fertilizer bag should read 0 (Ex. 30-0-15).

Tips to Properly Apply Fertilizer

1. Carefully and accurately follow instructions for application of fertilizer
2. Do not wash fertilizer spills into the streets. Sweep and dispose of trash.
3. Close the gate on the spreader when crossing over sidewalks or driveways.
4. Rinse the spreader in the lawn.
5. Test your soil before purchasing fertilizer.

Get Involved!

Actively help preserve and protect water in Carver County!

Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP)

The City of Chanhassen has partnered with the Metropolitan Council to participate in its Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). Volunteers collect surface water samples from Chanhassen Lakes. The samples are then sent to the Metropolitan Council to be analyzed for the following:

• Total phosphorus (TP)
• Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)
• Chlorophyll-a (CLA)

Volunteers also gather the following information:

• Measure surface water transparency using a secchi disc
• Record water temperature
• Record perceptions such as weather conditions

Samples are taken bi-weekly from April through October (14 sampling dates) and are sampled at the lake's deepest open-water location.

Chanhassen Monitors

The City of Chanhassen would like to thank its current citizen monitors! These residents take samples from the following lakes:

• Lake Lucy
• Lake Minnewashta
• Lake Riley
• Lake St. Joe
• Lake Susan
• Lotus Lake

Citizen monitors are still needed for Christmas Lake and Lake Ann. If you want to become a citizen monitor, please contact Ryan Pinkalla, Water Resources Technician, at (952) 227-1173 or by email.

Volunteer Lake Level Monitoring

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources leads the lake-level monitoring program. Knowing and understanding the history of water level fluctuations can help shore land owners cope with the natural fluctuations of a lake. DNR waters have installed permanent and temporary lake level gauges on many Chanhassen lakes. Some lakes need volunteers to submit readings to the DNR once a week. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the area hydrologist, Taylor Huinker, at (651) 259-5790 or at taylor.huinker@state.mn.us or the Water Resources Technician, Ryan Pinkalla at (952) 227-1173 or at rpinkalla@chanhassenmn.gov for more information.

Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Cost Share Grant Program

The MCWD Cost Share Grant Program can contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of installing rain gardens, shoreline or streambank plantings, permeable pavement driveways, or other water-friendly landscaping. Projects must also increase awareness about stormwater management through signage, events, or other outreach in order to qualify for funding. Grants may be available to the owner of any public or private property located within the District, including residential homes, apartments, businesses, schools, or cities.

Visit the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District for more information.

Low-Impact Development (LID) Grants

Qualified homeowners, businesses, and community groups can receive LID grants of up to $1,000.00 to install LID projects. LID projects are development features installed to manage and treat stormwater runoff. Applicants are rated on the quantity of stormwater treated and the quality and proximity to the receiving water body. The dollar value granted must be equally matched by the project owner (i.e., a $500.00 project would get $250.00 from the LID grant program, and the project proposer would need to contribute $250.00)

Examples of qualifying LID projects include but are not limited to, rain gardens, pervious pavement, shoreline restorations, and filtration swales. For more information, contact Ryan Pinkalla.

LID Grant Information Sheet

Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA) Runoff Management Grant Program

Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA), in coordination with Carver County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), will provide grants and technical assistance for residential rainwater runoff projects (for approved projects). The LMPA grant will provide funding up to 75% of the project cost, with a maximum of $500 per project, and payment will be made upon completion. There could be additional funding available from SWCD for qualified projects. LMPA has a total of $5,000 set aside for this purpose. Runoff projects can consist of rain gardens and berms that restrain water from running into the storm sewer system, draining through soil and native vegetation filtration.

Interested parties should contact either of the following resources to assist with the design of your project:

Seth Ristow

Resource Conservation Technician, SWCD

Kevin Zahler

Master Water Steward, LMPA

For more information, including what area is eligible for grant funding, visit lakeminnewashta.org.