2023 Goals and Initiatives

Water Quantity Goals:

  1. Complete the multi-year study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate options for managing landlocked basins in the VBWD.
  2. Continue watershed modeling, which will provide the ability to simulate the water flow associated with potential development projects to aid our permit program, identify vulnerabilities to existing structures, and understand potential modifications to the operation plans of lake outlets.
  3. Take emergency actions, such as emergency pumping of floodwaters, if the Managers determine a need and actions are feasible.
  4. Contact owners of flood-prone homes at landlocked basins and continue to purchase and remove homes per the VBWD 2015–2025 Watershed Management Plan and purchase policy. Sell properties with conservation easements to restrict future use and prevent new structures from flooding. Continue to investigate programs and grants to reduce the cost to VBWD taxpayers.

Water Quality Goals:

  1. Work with lake associations to support their aquatic invasive-species management programs.
  2. Explore the feasibility of projects to improve the water quality of Goose Lake.
  3. Continue reporting and maintenance requirements for the Wildflower Shores wetland bank.
  4. Follow state of Minnesota activities regarding its settlement with 3M for natural resource damages caused by PFAS contamination.
  5. Implement water quality improvement projects, such as ravine stabilization projects, as opportunities, need, and finances allow. 

Monitoring Goals:

  1. Continue basin and stream water quality monitoring and reporting programs, including the continuous monitoring stations at Kelle’s Creek, Valley Creek, and the outlet of Rest Area Pond, and conduct a fish survey at Valley Creek.
  2. Continue basin- and groundwater-level monitoring and reporting programs.

Inspection and Maintenance Goals:

  1. Continue infrastructure, conveyance system and dam inspections, as well as operation, reporting, and maintenance programs. Complete the high-priority maintenance items.
  2. Respond to VBWD infrastructure location requests from the Gopher State One Call program.

Education Goals:

  1. Continue our Best Management Practices (BMP) Cost-Share Grant Program.
  2. Continue to promote communication and collaboration with our residents, communities, and pertinent governmental units to achieve our vision, including meeting with communities to review our efforts and asking how to best collaborate in the future.
  3. Continue current and explore new education activities, including sponsoring the East Metro Water Resources Program (EMWREP), funding the Stillwater Area High School students’ macroinvertebrate monitoring of Valley Creek, and providing and/or funding opportunities for the VBWD Citizen Advisory Committee members and Managers.
  4. Continue to keep the VBWD website current and add functionality to store and access information related to the VBWD permit program more efficiently.
  5. Prepare and post information to the VBWD website regarding the VBWD-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study of VBWD landlocked basins, the management challenges they present, and possible actions to address those challenges.
  6. Consider sending new shoreline owners information on how they can protect VBWD waters.

Regulatory Program Goals:

  1. Continue our permit program.

Planning

  1. Start the process of preparing the VBWD 2025-2035 Watershed Management Plan.

Administrative and Other Goals:

  1. Plan and hold a watershed tour for the Managers.
  2. Stay abreast of grant opportunities, identify applicable grants for VBWD programs and projects, and pursue grants when appropriate.
  3. Continue to implement investment strategy.