Plans and Permits | Chanhassen, MN

Bluff Creek

The federal Clean Water Act requires states to prepare a list of impaired surface waters every even numbered year. This act requires states to adopt water quality standards to protect lakes, streams, and wetlands from pollution. The standards define how much of a pollutant (bacteria, nutrients, turbidity, mercury, etc.) can be in the water and still meet designated uses, such as drinking water, fishing, and swimming. A water body is designated “impaired” if it fails to meet one or more water quality standards.

The law requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop TMDLs for these waters. A Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL, is a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that a water body can receive and still safely meet water quality standards. For more information please visit Minnesota Pollution Control Agency or Environmental Protection Agency.

Impaired Waters List:

The following water bodies are listed as impaired in Chanhassen:

Bluff Creek
Lake Hazeltine
Lake Riley
Lake Susan
Lake Virginia
Lotus Lake
MN River
Riley Creek

TMDL List:

The following water bodies are listed as exceeding their Total Maximum Daily Load of sediment in Chanhassen:

Bluff Creek
Minnehaha Creek Watershed
Nine Lakes

Bluff Creek Plans

As of 1994 the City of Chanhassen identified Bluff Creek as a valuable resources for recreation, wildlife, and aesthetic incentives. The Recommendations presented in the Bluff Creek Natural Resources Management Plan are answers to the Steering Committee' s vision to preserve the Bluff Creek for future generations.

Bluff Creek Stressor ID Report

Biological Stressor Identification Report

Fish Data Appendices:

Invertebrate Appendices:

Construction Permit

The MPCA issues the Construction Stormwater General Permit to protect water resources from contaminants in runoff from construction sites. The general permit requires controls for construction stormwater runoff. In most cases, construction site owners and operators may apply for coverage under the general permit, meaning they agree to comply with the conditions set in the general permit.

Not all developments require NPDES permit, but they all must meet section 19-145 of City Code. Current and proposed developments within the city can be found on our planning page.

Resources

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4)

The Stormwater Program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) operators is intended to reduce the pollutant loading to water resources from storm sewer systems to the “maximum extent practicable.”

Current Permit

MS4 2021 Permit

Annual Report

2021

Citizen Comment Section

The document can be found at the link below or is available as a hard copy at Chanhassen City Hall. You may also request that a copy be sent to you either electronically or via U.S. mail by contacting Joe Seidl. Chanhassen’s MS4 Permit was approved May 8th, 2014. The city will be updating the existing SWPPP per new permit and our application.

National Pollution Discharge Elimination System

Stormwater runoff 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 runoff 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 runoff pollutant loads and concentrations.

The pollutants most commonly associated with stormwater runoff 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 runoff.

The Stormwater Program for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) operators is intended to reduce the pollutant loading to 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.

The State of Minnesota adopted MN Rule Chapter 7090 in August of 2005 to implement the NPDES requirements. On August 1, 2013 the General Permit Authorization to Discharge Stormwater Associated with Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System/State Disposal System (NPDES/SDS) Permit Program MNR040000 was established.

Under the new permit, existing permit holders were required to submit an MS4 SWPPP Application for Reauthorization. This application must describe how the MS4 is in compliance with the new permit or what steps they will take and the anticipated schedule to come into compliance with the new permit. Chanhassen’s application was deemed complete and is available for public comment. The document can be found at the link below or is available as a hard copy at Chanhassen City Hall. You may also request that a copy be sent to you either electronically or via U.S. mail by contacting Joe Seidl.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP)

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

MS4

The City’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit is designed to reduce the amount of sediment and other pollutant that enter state waters from the City’s storm sewer network. City staff is required to submit annual MS4 reports to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. See below for the report submitted for the year 2020.

Staff