What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area of land that captures water in any form, such as rain, snow, or dew, and drains it to a particular stream, river, or lake. All land is part of the watershed for some creek, stream, river, or lake.
Watershed District Purpose
In 1955, the Minnesota Legislature passed and the governor signed the Watershed Act to recognize the need to manage water on a broader basis than municipal or county boundaries. This act provided the means to create watershed districts in the state. As stated in statute, the purposes of watershed districts are:
To conserve the natural resources of the state by land use planning, flood control, and other conservation projects by using sound scientific principles for the protection of the public health and welfare and the provident use of the natural resources.
Minnesota Statutes chapters 103B and 103D specify the responsibilities and authorities of watershed districts. More specifically, under Minnesota Statutes section 103B.201, metropolitan watershed districts are to:
- Develop watershed plans and programs to protect, preserve, and use natural surface and groundwater storage and retention systems.
- Minimize public capital expenditures needed to correct flooding and water quality problems.
- Identify and plan for means to effectively protect and improve surface and groundwater quality.
- Establish more uniform local policies and official controls for surface and groundwater management.
- Prevent erosion of soil into surface water systems.
- Promote groundwater recharge.
- Protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and water recreational facilities.
- Secure the other benefits associated with the proper management of surface and ground water.
The BCWD has the responsibility to assess and manage land and water resources for the purposes listed above and as indicated elsewhere in chapters 103B and 103D.
View our Introduction to the Watershed Presentation (PDF) to learn more about the role of BCWD.