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Stormwater Management & Water Resources
The City of Mendota Heights is fortunate in having several varying types of surface waters for the enjoyment of the Community. These include the Mississippi River, Interstate Valley Creek (Bigfoot), Ivy Falls Creek, Lake Augusta, Lemay Lake, Rogers Lake, and several wetlands. The City recognizes the importance and value of these surface waters and the benefit they provide for ecosystems, wildlife, and residents.
The City strives to enhance, protect, and restore its water resources through the following programs, plans, and services:
- Surface Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP): Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (PDF)
- Surface Water Management Plan: Surface Water Management Plan (PDF)
- Land Disturbance Guidance Document: Land Disturbance Guidance Document (PDF)
- Curb-cut Raingarden Program (link to Raingarden Brochure: Rain Gardens)
- Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP)
- Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP)
- Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) program: Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
- Adopt-A-Drain
- Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) administration
- Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
The City is required to maintain a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit with the State of Minnesota, administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The City invites all Mendota Heights residents to share their ideas and opinions on the City’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention program.
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit (MS4): Minnesota Pollution Control Agency MS4 Part 2 Permit Application
Partners
The City of Mendota Heights cooperates with neighboring organizations that assist and provide guidance in matters of stormwater runoff and surface water quality:
- Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management
- Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
- Blue Thumb
Additional Resources
- Interstate Valley Creek Study (PDF)
- Stormwater Brochure (PDF)
- Landscaping for Clean Water
- City of Mendota Heights Rain Garden Brochure (PDF)
- Adopt-A-Drain Brochure
- MN DNR Restore Your Shore
A rain garden is a depression in the landscape that is planted like a garden that collects rainwater runoff and allows the runoff to infiltrate into the ground. Learn about the City's Boulevard Rain Garden Program for street reconstruction projects, how rain gardens work, the benefits they provide, and additional resources, view the City of Mendota Heights Rain Garden Brochure (PDF).
The City's BLVD RAIN GARDEN PROGRAM is ONLY for residents undergoing a street improvements or reconstruction project. If you are a part of a neighborhood that is undergoing a street improvement or reconstruction project, sign up for a rain garden on the street restoration project questionnaire. An engineer will evaluate your location. During street reconstruction, a contractor will dig a depression and prepare the soil. After construction is completed, residents will select a garden design. After construction is completed, residents plant their gardens. The City provides plants and hosts a planting day with demonstrations. Once the garden is planted, residents are responsible for maintaining them. For residents not undergoing a street restoration project, please see grant opportunities listed on the brochure, via the link posted above.
The City participates in the Wetland Health Evaluation Program through Dakota County. This program utilizes volunteers from around the County to collect data on wetland plants and macroinvertebrates to provide valuable information to the City, its Staff, and decision makers. The goal of the program is to protect and improve local wetlands. The City currently monitors two wetlands per season. Copperfield ponds, as well as one rotating wetland. To view the most recent report, click here (insert link to document 2-page MH Report)
The City partners with the Metropolitan Council in the Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP) to collect and analyze water-quality data from lakes within Mendota Heights. Resident volunteers collect samples and lake data, which is then brought to the Metropolitan Council for analyzing, review and assessment, which is then incorporated into an annual Metro-wide report. To view the most recent report, and for additional program information, visit the Metro Council website.
The MN Wetland Conservation Act was passed into law in 1991 with the purpose of achieving no net loss in the quantity, quality and biological diversity of Minnesota’s existing wetlands. Residents and property owners wishing to install a project within a wetland area must contact the City to determine if a wetland permit is needed. The City of Mendota Heights is the Local Government Unit (LGU) responsible for administering the WCA within the City. For wetland permitting and related questions, please contact:
For more information on the Wetland Conservation Act, please visit the Board of Water and Soil Resources website.
The best method of controlling Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) is prevention. The following practices are also State laws that help protect our surface waters from the spread of AIS:
- Clean all visible aquatic plants, zebra mussels, and other prohibited invasive species from watercraft, trailers, and equipment that may have come into contact with the water before leaving any water access or water body.
- Drain water-related equipment including the ballast tanks, bait containers, motor, drain bilge, livewell, baitwell, and boat. Remove all drain plugs before leaving a water body or shoreline property, and Keep drain plugs out and devices open while transporting watercraft.
- Dispose of unused bait, including minnows, leeches, and worms in the trash. It is illegal to release bait or aquatic life into a waterbody. Any bait you want to keep must be refilled with tap or bottled water.
- Transport and arrive at lake access with drain plug removed/open.
- Do not launch a watercraft with prohibited species attached.
- Do not transport water from one water body to another.
Learn to Spot Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)
There are several resources available to learn how to identify and report invasive species. For more information, visit the following sites.
Rogers Lake Curly Leaf Pondweed Treatment and Education Program
The City has partnered with the Rogers Lake Improvement Association to treat Curly Leaf Pondweed, an invasive aquatic plant that invades lake beds and out-competes native vegetation, forming a monoculture that diminishes recreation value, as well as water quality and overall health of a water body. The program also includes an educational component to help area residents learn what they can do to identify and prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species such as Curly Leaf Pondweed. The Lake Association contributes both financially, as well as volunteering time to help educate residents in the watershed.