Elm Creek Watershed unveils fourth‑generation plan, flags chloride and climate resilience as priorities

Diane Spector, an engineer with Stantec and project lead for the Elm Creek Watershed Commission, presented the draft fourth‑generation watershed management plan to the Dayton City Parks Commission on April 1.

Spector said the plan updates the watershed’s goals and implementation strategies and begins a public comment period. “My name is Diane Spector. I’m actually with Stantec. We’re not only the engineers for the City of Dayton, we’re also the engineers for the Elm Creek Watershed Commission,” she said, opening the presentation. She explained that state statute requires watershed management plans to be updated every 10 years and that this document will guide city planning and capital improvements over the next decade.

Why it matters: The draft frames a decade of projects and outreach intended to reduce pollutant loading into lakes and streams that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) lists as impaired, and to prepare for changing precipitation patterns that could increase runoff and flooding.

The presentation summarized current conditions and problems in Elm Creek: six lakes currently on the state’s impaired waters list (Spector noted Fish Lake was recently removed after earlier work), widespread stream impairments from sediment, nutrients and bacteria, and new chloride impairments identified on Elm Creek and the South Fork of Rush Creek. Spector described chloride as “the new thing” the commission will study in detail and said the commission received just under $50,000 in a joint grant to develop a chloride management plan with neighboring watersheds.

The plan lays out four primary goals adopted by the technical advisory committee and citizen commissioners: protect existing water resources, repair past impacts, expand education and outreach, and anticipate environmental and climate conditions through 2050 and beyond. Implementation tools in the draft include continued monitoring at four sentinel lakes (Weaver, Fish, Diamond and Bryce), streamflow monitoring, a part‑time (planned full‑time) outreach coordinator shared among four watersheds, enhanced street sweeping, cost‑share grants for voluntary best management practices (BMPs) on private property and small city projects, and a project pipeline for stream and lake treatments.

Spector described several city‑specific projects already funded or under study: a set of Diamond Lake neighborhood projects (pond expansion near French Lake Road, in‑manhole treatment for storm sewer discharges into Diamond Lake, and treatment options for Grass Lake), with feasibility study work planned next year and an alum treatment for Diamond Lake listed in the CIP for 2027–2028. She said alum application — a chemical that binds phosphorus — was used previously on Fish Lake and contributed to its improvement.

On funding and partnerships, Spector said the commission secured significant Board of Water and Soil Resources grant funding; about $175,000 was dedicated to outreach with Hennepin County and agricultural engagement, and “a big chunk” — more than $100,000 — went to three local projects in Dayton.

The draft also includes a four‑phase Climate Resilience and Sustainability Project tied to forthcoming NOAA precipitation guidance (Atlas 15). Spector said phase 2 will use hydraulic and hydrologic modeling to test scenarios and identify adaptation strategies such as revised design standards, regional infiltration or storage, and flood‑proofing infrastructure.

Commission discussion focused on clarifying the plan’s scope (it does not cover drinking water), how the commission influences development review, and how the city will be involved in upcoming comprehensive plan updates. Commissioners were invited to submit comments via a web form and a forthcoming public survey Spector said would help set priorities.

Next steps: the commission is circulating the draft and appendices, finalizing rules and standards, conducting targeted outreach to lake associations and HOAs, and developing the joint chloride management plan. Spector asked commissioners and staff to review the public materials and provide comments through the online comment box. Marty (city staff) was designated as the local contact for forwarding comments to the watershed team.

Ending: Spector closed by noting materials are posted on the Elm Creek Watershed website and by encouraging local review and comment on the draft plan.