About the Water Management Organization

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The Carver County Water Management Organization protects, preserves, and manages lakes, rivers and wetlands within its boundaries. The organization covers 320 square miles and includes the following watersheds: Bevens Creek, Carver Creek, East Chaska Creek, West Chaska Creek and parts of Pioneer Sarah and the Crow River.

Primary responsibilities

Monitor the health of lakes, rivers and wetlands
Educate on and encourage stewardship of water resources
Manage the county's aquatic invasive species program
Provide permits to manage stormwater runoff during and after construction projects
Manage the Wetlands Conservation Act for the county
Install projects that protect or restore surface waters and groundwater

The activities of the district are managed by the County Board of Commissioners, a Citizens Advisory Committee, and a Technical Advisory Committee.

Background

The organization was established in 1996 when the State Board of Water & Soil Resources gave water management authority for the Carver Creek, Bevens Creek, South Fork Crow River, Chaska Creek and Hazeltine Bavaria Creek watershed districts to Carver County. The County then assumed planning, funding, regulation and implementation functions for the combined district in accordance with Minnesota State Statute for watershed plans.

Carver County Water Management Organization adopted its first Water Management Plan in 2001. The most recent version was updated and adopted in 2020.

Advisory Committees

The Water Management Organization Advisory Committee works with staff to make recommendations to the County Board on the following matters.

Projects and project prioritization
Funding and water levy
Water Plan, Groundwater Plan & Solid Waste Plan
Water quality and total maximum daily load programs and projects
Education program and projects
Feasibility studies

View advisory committee page for more info and meeting agendas.

The Technical Advisory Committee provides feedback on technical issues in plans and projects, and is made up of city and township staff or elected representatives and representatives from the following state agencies: Board of Water & Soil Resources, Department of Natural Resources, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Plans and Annual Reports

Water Management Plan

The Water Management Plan guides decisions for managing and restoring lakes, rivers and wetlands within the Carver County Water Management Organization's boundaries. The plan is updated every 10 years. The most recent version was adopted by the Carver County Board on February 4th, 2020.

Groundwater Plan

In 2015, the County Board approved an updated Groundwater Plan. This plan defines the County’s role in groundwater resource management for the next ten years through identification goals and actions the County will take over the life of this plan.

Annual report

The annual report provides a look at the activities accomplished and challenges encountered by the by the Carver County Water Management Organization each year.

Staff

Name	Contact me for info on	Phone	E-mail
Abigail Ernst	Water rules permits Wetland permits	952-361-1807	aernst@c arvercountymn.gov
Andrew Dickhart	Aquatic invasive species info Watercraft inspection program Carp removal projects	952-361-1871	adickhart@c arvercountymn.gov
Andrew Edgcumbe	Water quality monitoring data Bio-monitoring data	952-361-1037	aedgcumbe@c arvercounty.gov
Kristen Larson	Water rules permits Wetland permits	952-361-1824	klarson@c arvercountymn.gov
Paul Moline	Administration Budget Planning	952-361-1825	pmoline@c arvercountymn.gov
Madeline Seveland	Youth and adult education programs Citizens advisory committee	952-361-1026	mseveland@c arvercountymn.gov
Tim Sundby	Stormwater reuse Monitoring program Well sealing financial assistance Water quality project cost share info Well water testing kits	952-361-1816	tsundby@c arvercountymn.gov

Boundaries

Type your address into the search window to the right. Areas in blue are within the Carver County Water Management Organization's boundaries.

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