Finance - Budgets and Audits - Brown's Creek Watershed District

Annual Budget Development Process

BCWD staff reviews the Implementation Plan in the 10-year Watershed Management Plan and specific water resource implementation plans to determine which activities should be budgeted for in the coming year.
BCWD staff contacts all municipalities and agencies to discuss potential cooperative projects and stakeholder priorities.
The Board meets as many times as necessary for a budget workshop, generally at least twice, to assess the previous year’s work plan and consider projected projects and programs.
The Board holds a public hearing (generally at the September board meeting) for public comments on the proposed draft levy and budget.
The BCWD Board and Administrator meet with Washington County to discuss their budget and proposed tax levy, and the Board certifies their initial levy to the county in September.
The budget is presented to the County Commissioners in a public workshop in November.
The board can review projects and programs between September and December and determine if the final budget and levy can be reduced at the December Board meeting.
Prior to final certification, the Board of Managers will take any additional public comment on the budget and levy at the December regular meeting.
The final levy must be certified in December.

The following projects were included in the 2025 budget:

Brown’s Creek Stream Restoration
- Finalize the restoration of 2,000 linear feet of Brown’s Creek along the Brown’s Creek State Trail to restore habitat, reduce sedimentation, and improve access by utilizing a MN Pollution Control 319 grant and collaborating with the MN Department of Natural Resources and the City of Stillwater.
- Determine the feasibility for restoration upstream of McKusick Road between the Millbrook development and the Brown's Creek Cove development.
- Determine the feasibility for thermal loading reductions to Brown's Creek from McKusick Road direct drainage
Brown’s Creek Conservation Easement Area
- Continue to implement natural resource management plan to restore up to 1,400 linear feet of Brown’s Creek and surrounding 13 acres.

Collaborate with Lakeview Hospital for stormwater management opportunities above regulations.

Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Maintenance: The BCWD has a growing list of CIPs requiring long-term maintenance, including Kismet Basin, the THPP, Countryside Auto, BC Park Rock Crib, Neal Ave Raingardens, Long Lake Raingardens, Norell Ave Pond Retrofit, and the Iron Enhanced Sand Filter. Annual inspections and maintenance activities are necessary to achieve the intended water quality improvements from CIPs.
Permitting Program: Complete a Regulatory Program review and improve BCWD's permitting process as part of the 10-year Watershed Management Plan update.
Flood Risk Reduction Program: Assess flood management as part of the 10-year Watershed Management Plan update.
East Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP): Create programming to educate HOA’s regarding their stormwater management facilities maintenance obligations, educate on healthy buffers for water resources, and share water softener and chloride education with residents.
Water Monitoring: Continue to partner with the Washington Conservation District to conduct baseline monitoring on BCWD lakes and streams, complete performance monitoring on recent CIPs to determine function and maintenance needs/frequency, and collect groundwater data to better understand flooding and influence on Brown’s Creek and other groundwater dependent natural resources.

Minnesota Statute 103D.355 requires Watershed Districts to have an annual audit completed of the books and accounts of the watershed district.