RPBCWD is excited to announce the delistings of Riley, Rice Marsh, and Hyland lakes from the impaired waters list! The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) maintains an impaired waters list as required by the federal Clean Water Act. These three lakes were on the list due to an excess of nutrients such as phosphorus. After projects implemented by the District and its partners, these lakes now meet state water quality standards.

Hennepin County has appointed Jessica Loftus to fill a seat on the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) Board of Managers. Loftus, a resident of Deephaven, has a business degree from the University of St. Thomas and a master’s degree in public administration from Metropolitan State University.

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District's annual report is a summary of what happened the previous year. It includes information on the previous year's budget, capital improvement program update, and the budget and workplan for the upcoming year. Check out the Annual Report, Water Resources Summary, Lake and Creek Fact Sheets, and more to see what we were up to in 2025.

RPBCWD is developing a HOA Stormwater Management Education program overviewing common stormwater best management practices, their specific benefits, maintenance requirements, and the role HOAs can play in protecting clean water. To help us reach as many HOAs within the district as we can, submit your HOA with the form on this page.

For the first time in watershed district history, two watershed districts are going head-to-head in the Grate Drain Race! From August 1st through November 30th, RPBCWD and our neighboring watershed Nine Mile Creek Watershed District are competing to see which community can adopt and clean the most storm drains and make the biggest impact. Help us clean our way to victory for a chance to win exciting prizes.

RPBCWD staff will be conducting Creek Walks along Purgatory Creek and its tributaries throughout the summer. These creek walks are used to assess current stream conditions and prioritize areas in need of restoration. Staff may be entering private property along the creek as part of these assessments. If you see us out walking the creek, come say hi!

Did you know warmer water holds less oxygen? With the recent Extreme Heat Warning and extended period of high temperatures, our lakes are feeling the heat. Higher temps and low levels of dissolved oxygen can lead to fish mortality events, or mass die-offs due to a lake's stressful conditions. Reporting a fish kill helps inform state agencies of the die-off event, allowing them to evaluate the event in a timely manner and determine the appropriate response.

A permit is required before work can be done along lake shorelines in RPBCWD, including riprap installations, a common method used to stabilize shores. However, you should instead consider restoring your shoreline with native vegetation rather than riprap. Riprap and retaining walls can reduce erosion, but they can also be expensive and contribute nothing to lake health. Not only can properly installed native vegetation protect a shoreline from erosion, it also enhances shoreline beauty and contributes to better water quality in your lake. You may even be eligible to receive cost share funding from RPBCWD to help pay for a natural shoreline restoration.

We want to see your best photographs that feature our lakes, streams, parks, wildlife, plants, recreation, or anything else outdoors that inspires you! Winning photographs will be featured in our 2027 wall calendar. Submissions are due September 30th, 2026 and will be judged by RPBCWD staff and its Citizen Advisory Committee.

The Stewardship Cost Share Program offers financial support and resources for clean water projects within the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District. The program is broken down into two programs: the Standard Cost Share program covers large projects such as habitat restorations, shoreline restorations, waterbody buffers, and stormwater best management practices, while the Mini-Cost Share program is for residents looking to install a small native plant project in their yard such as a pocket prairie, pollinator garden, or native shrub/tree planting.

Aquatic plants are essential for lake health. They provide habitat for wildlife, protect shorelines from erosion, clean up water pollution, and so much more! RPBCWD’s aquatic plant program is designed to boost native plant populations by controlling invasive plants, such as Eurasian Watermilfoil and Curlyleaf Pondweed.

To assist with the control of invasive buckthorn within the watershed district, RPBCWD has two Uprooter tools available for loan with a $250 deposit. The deposit will be returned to you when you return the Uprooter in good condition. You may borrow the Uprooter for up to 10 days.