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Watershed district seeks Minnetrista's support to buy 6300 Railroad to address phosphorus runoff
Summary
Representatives of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District asked Minnetrista for a resolution of support to acquire an 11.4-acre parcel at 6300 Railroad, saying the property is a key source of phosphorus entering Painter Creek and, downstream, Jennings Bay; MCWD described demolition, temporary conservation and feasibility study plans.
Representatives from the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) asked the Minnetrista City Council for a resolution of support to acquire the parcel at 6300 Railroad, a site the district described as strategically positioned in the Painter Creek subwatershed upstream of Jennings Bay.
Gary Cermak, planner and project manager for the watershed district, said diagnostic work shows the majority of phosphorus entering Jennings Bay originates upstream of the site. "We're really seeing that upstream of this property is where majority of that phosphorus is coming in," he said, and described near-term actions including demolition of older structures (the house dates back to about 1890), removal of septic systems and wells, regrading and native seeding to hold the property in a temporary conservation state while MCWD completes monitoring and a feasibility study.
Cermak said the parcel includes roughly 1,500 feet of creek frontage and about nine acres of upland that could host treatment facilities such as sand-iron filters or an alum-injection system. He said MCWD had obtained an appraisal; the listing price was $850,000 and the district negotiated an $825,000 purchase price.
City staff told the council this request is typically a courtesy: the watershed district does not legally require city approval to buy the property, but MCWD often seeks local support and coordinates with planning staff to ensure consistency with the comprehensive plan.
Why it matters: The parcel sits in a watershed feeding Lake Minnetonka's Jennings Bay, which is listed as impaired for phosphorus. Acquisition and targeted restoration could reduce nutrient loading, improve downstream water quality and create opportunities for passive public recreation in coordination with city-owned lands.
Next steps: MCWD will continue feasibility work and coordinate with city staff; the council was asked for a resolution of support rather than asked to take a binding action in the transcript excerpt.
