What’s New and Happening in the Rice Creek Watershed District: Summer 2026
RCWD news
| District news and information that is relevant to our city and county partners and their communities. |
| It’s been a busy and productive year for our team at Rice Creek Watershed District, and we’re excited to share what we’ve been working on in 2026. Most projects will be long term and go into future years. |
| Watershed Based Implementation Funding Program (WBIF) We held a meeting in June 2026, that included all of the WBIF Convene members watershed partners to discuss and propose projects to complete under this program. RCWD staff created an ArcGIS Dashboard for this program which shows numerous details of the program such as projects completed, funding allocated, pollutant reductions from projects, and more. Anyone can access the dashboard from RCWD’s website.  |
| Peltier Lake Water Quality Improvement Project We are planning a pilot project on Peltier Lake in 2027 to evaluate methods for improving water quality and reducing phosphorus impacts. Staff are working with consultants to develop monitoring plans that will measure conditions before and after implementation to help assess project effectiveness. JD3 Clearwater Creek Restoration Project Planning continues for the JD3 Clearwater Creek restoration project. A public information meeting is tentatively planned for August/Early September at Centerville City Hall. The project is intended to address stream erosion that contributes sediment to Peltier Lake while improving long-term creek stability and water quality. Middle Rice Creek Restoration Efforts We’re advancing restoration work along Middle Rice Creek. A streambank repair project north of County Road I is being developed to address an actively eroding section of creek. White Bear Lake Subwatershed Assessment Update We’re updating the White Bear Lake subwatershed assessment. The update will include new information from Ramsey and Washington County and help guide future water quality improvement strategies. Iron-Enhanced Sand Filter Research and Maintenance Staff are working with partners and researchers to improve maintenance practices for iron-enhanced sand filters, an important tool for removing phosphorus from stormwater. Updated operation and maintenance guidance is being developed to help extend filter life and maximize water quality benefits. All RCWD IESF are currently operational. Lake Johanna Outlet Improvements Planning and design work continues on repairs to the Lake Johanna outlet system. Construction is anticipated in fall/early winter 2026, pending final easement and access agreements. Long-Term Watershed Planning We’ve begun preparing for our next Watershed Management Plan update. The planning process will help guide future investments in water quality, flood reduction, drainage management, and natural resource protection throughout the watershed. Moore Lake Watershed Study We’ll continue to evaluate watershed improvement opportunities in the Moore Lake area in Fridley. Preliminary planning has identified potential projects that could improve water quality and watershed function over the next several years. Jones Lake Project Receives State Funding and Moves Forward We received $840,000 in State bonding funds for the Jones Lake Flood Mitigation Project. The Board adopted findings of public purpose and benefit needed to support the District’s permit application with the Minnesota DNR and continue discussing the project. Learn more about Jones Lake Flood Mitigation Project here. Centerville Lake Alum Treatment Completed The Board approved final payment for the successful Centerville Lake Alum Project, a major water quality improvement effort funded in part by Minnesota’s Clean Water Fund. The project was completed on schedule and under budget and is expected to improve water quality for approximately 15–20 years by reducing phosphorus released from lake sediments.  Maintenance Work Approved for Public Drainage Systems The Board approved several projects to maintain and improve public drainage infrastructure:Authorized a $75,000 engineering report for repairs to Ramsey-Washington Judicial Ditch 1.Approved maintenance work on Anoka-Washington Judicial Ditch 4, including tree and tile repairs, not to exceed $22,000.Approved tree-clearing maintenance work on Ramsey County Ditch 5, not to exceed $98,890.These efforts help establish and maintain a maintenance corridor for future work while also maintaining drainage capacity and reduce future flooding concerns. |
| EMWREP Contract Not Approved The Board voted not to renew participation in the East Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP) for 2026–2027. Iron Enhanced Sand Filter Professional Workshop Series with Freshwater Completed Throughout 2025 and 2026, RCWD, along with Freshwater, and the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center partnered to expand understanding of iron-enhanced sand filter (IESF) systems through two site visits and an in-person workshop. These events brought together practitioners, researchers, and decision-makers to share lessons on system design, operation, maintenance, and performance. Key takeaways: Every site is unique. IESF designs must reflect site-specific conditions, such as groundwater levels and drainage patterns. Plan for long-term maintenance. Maintenance, winterization, and durable equipment should be considered early to improve system reliability and reduce future costs. IESFs improve water quality. Monitoring shows these systems effectively reduce phosphorus and E. coli, making them a valuable stormwater treatment practice. Collaboration leads to better outcomes. Sharing experiences across organizations strengthens system design, operation, and long-term success. Silver Lake Resident and Lake User Survey Completed RCWD staff completed a survey for Silver Lake residents and users, receiving more than 200 responses from residents and lake users. The survey results will help inform future planning and management efforts for Silver Lake while ensuring community priorities are considered. Stay tuned for updates as we continue developing future projects and outreach opportunities for Silver Lake. |
| Water Quality Grants Approved The RCWD Board approved more than $65,000 in cost-share funding so far in 2026 to help residents and communities implement water quality improvements, including: Multiple residential shoreline restorations and rain gardens Karth Lake Shoreline Stabilization & Restoration Dog waste stations at Commons Park and the Rice Creek Trailhead in Fridley. Island Lake Shoreline Stabilization & Restoration7.5-acre conservation cover and 2.5-acre woodland buffer adjacent to Peltier Lake These projects will help reduce sediment/phosphorus pollution to our lakes, increase stormwater infiltration into the ground, and reduce stormwater runoff entering local lakes, streams, and wetlands. |
| If you need more information on these projects or grants, contact Jen Oknich, joknich@ricecreek.org. If you need more information on Water Quality efforts and projects, contact Matt Kocian, mkocian@ricecreek.org. If any city or county wants to partner or needs support on outreach and education activities, contact Kendra Sommerfeld, ksommerfeld@ricecreek.org. For permit application or questions on Regulatory program, contact Patrick Hughes, phughes@ricecreek.org. For public drainage or District Facility questions, contact Tom Schmidt, tschmidt@ricecreek.org. |