Systems Approach

Development of a Systems Approach to Watershed & Lake Management

The purpose of the project is to develop a systems or holistic approach to watershed management that considers the many factors that impact watershed health. The systems under consideration include those of both the natural and built environtment. Examples of natural systems include ecosystems such as lakes and wetlands. Examples of built systems include roadways and stormwater conveyances.

The project was ordered by the RPBCWD Board of Managers on October 2, 2024. See below for the board resolution as well as the list of tasks included in the project.

Sign-Up Forms for Project Meetings

If you are interested in attending, please only sign up for one of the two sessions. The content will be similar between each session.

February 26, 2026 at 6:00 pm: Mitchell & Red Rock Subwatersheds

Location: Cambria Room at Eden Prairie Community Center (16700 Valley View Rd, Eden Prairie)

March 5, 2026 at 6:00 pm: Ann, Lucy, & Susan Subwatersheds

Location: Training Room at Chanhassen Civic Campus (7700 Market Blvd, Chanhassen)

Focus Areas

The project area includes the subwatersheds of Ann, Lucy, Susan, Mitchell, and Red Rock lakes. These lakes were identified by staff as high priority candidates for diagnostic study to help inform development of a systems approach to watershed management. Work currently underway includes the study of the many systemic factors impacting watershed health.

Project Tasks

Task 1: Perform watershed diagnostic studies for selected lakes
Task 2: Develop a district-wide shoreline and aquatic vegetation management plan to support holistic watershed management
Task 3: Develop a district-wide fiisheries assessment and management plan to support holistic watershed management

What's Happening

Currently, district staff and consultants are gathering and analyzing data, running computer models, building data-driven maps, and more to inform the development of the systems approach.

Project Meetings

RPBCWD staff and consultants will host a series of meetings about the project. The meetings will be grouped by lake subwatersheds. Group 1 will focus on the Mitchell and Red Rock subwatersheds; Group 2 will focus on the Ann, Lucy, and Susan subwatersheds.

Due to limited space, meeting registration is required. Registration will open in mid-February.

	Meetings	Mitchell & Red Rock Subwatersheds	Ann, Lucy, & Susan Subwatersheds
1	What we’re doing: Lake ecology and the development of a holistic watershed management approach	2/26/2026, 6 pm, Eden Prairie	3/5/2026, 6 pm, Chanhassen
2	What we learned; characteristics of watershed and lake systems	TBD	TBD
3	Identification of potential projects, programs, initiatives, and process scoping	TBD	TBD