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SECRETS of the BASSETT CREEK WATERSHED

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SECRETS of the BASSETT CREEK WATERSHED The Bassett Creek watershed begins in Cover Photo by Dan Johnson Dan by Photo Cover WHO WE ARE western Plymouth where ponds, wetlands, and AND WHAT WE DO swales or ditches drain to Plymouth Creek, The Bassett Creek Watershed which flows southeasterly before emptying into Management Commission the western side of Medicine Lake. (BCWMC) works to protect and Bassett Creek emerges from the southern Numerous pollutants are carried in the storm- improve the condition of lakes, edge of Medicine Lake and flows south and LIGHTEN YOUR STEP BE PART OF THE SOLUTION 7. TURN THE FLOW AROUND Trumpeter Swans: Photo by Dan Johnson water runoff, including: Lawn fertilizers, nutrients Direct a downspout back into your yard away from driveways Did you know the average home uses 100,000 streams, wetlands, and ponds then east, picking up water from the Sweeney from decaying grass clippings and leaves, pesticides, Twelve easy things you can do at home! and sidewalks where it can run off your property. Make a within its borders. The BCWMC Lake Branch and the North Branch of Bassett gallons of water per year? That’s 274 gallons a day. shallow depression away from your foundation where But that’s just the start. Each of us is a consumer of 1. BE A STORM DRAIN GOALIE downspout water can accumulate and soak in the ground. is a cooperative organization among the nine Rain water gets away from us too quickly sometimes (that must Creek before entering a tunnel and traveling 2.4 Better yet, save that water in a rain barrel and use the reservoir water on a far grander scale. Water is used to be why it’s always running). And with it goes grass clippings, cities within the watershed and it uses a miles underground to the Mississippi River. The for watering landscape plants in dry times. three-pronged approach to managing water produce the food we eat and the beverages we fertilizer and anything else that can run off our rooftops, watershed of Bassett Creek is a small part of the drink. It’s used in the production of energy. It’s used driveways, and sidewalks. If left to accumulate—and combine resources: projects, policy, and education. with trash and other waste—these organics will find their way 8. TAKE A KID FISHING! larger Mississippi River Basin. in the creation of the goods and services we buy Life isn’t all about work. Those who most appreciate the need through storm drains into our lakes and rivers. Keep your hard Examples of some BCWMC projects include for water protection and water conservation are those who and rely on every day. Combine all these elements surfaces and street front clear of clippings, leaves and fertil- restoring stream banks to eliminate erosion learn its value through experience. The MN DNR Fishing in the and you can arrive at your watershed footprint. izer over spray. Regularly inspect your local storm drain and WILDLIFE CORNER Neighborhood (FIN) program has designated Wirth Lake in and improve habitat, installing ponds to treat remove debris where possible. Bassett Creek and its watershed are home Your watershed footprint is a measure of how much Minneapolis a great catch for your planned outing. Wet a line. stormwater before it enters a lake or stream, to a vast number of animals, birds, fish and water you use every day. A smaller watershed and improving lake outlet structures to better footprint means you’re taking action to conserve Photo by Dan Johnson 2. CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM insects. A variety of migratory birds and Use fertilizers, weed killers and sidewalk salt sparingly. Each 9. CONSERVE, CONSERVE, CONSERVE Swap out a shower fixture with a water saving shower head. manage flows and improve infrastructure. Monarch Butterfly: Photo by Dan Johnson water today so that we all may have enough clean have negative ecosystem impacts that work against clean water. waterfowl stop on area lakes each fall and toxins from coal-tar driveway sealants, oil from Or how about turning off the water while you brush your teeth? Fertilize? Cut out the late fall application, it’s most susceptible BCWMC policies include requirements for water resources tomorrow. leaking cars, pet waste, and salt, sand and other Want more? Save up for that low volume toilet. Trade in the spring. If you’re really lucky, you might cross to runoff. Got weeds? Spot treat and look for organic stormwater management when a site is garbage disposal for organics composting. Wash your clothes paths with a rare Blanding’s turtle or trumpeter deicers. In creeks and lakes, these pollutants alternatives. In the winter, shovel early, shovel often. Save the only when they need washing, not after every wearing. developed or redeveloped. And, the BCWMC accumulate and result in poor water quality— salt for the baked potato. swan. TREAT YOUR CURB You can do this. uses a variety of avenues to educate watershed Medicine Lake is a birding hot spot with LIKE A SHORELINE affecting aesthetics and recreational enjoyment of residents on ways they can help improve water the lakes as well as impacting the health of fish, 3. PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET more than 120 different species of birds identi- Since we all live in a watershed, it’s Yes, you’ve heard it before, but it does make a difference. It’s no 10. THINK OUTSIDE THE SINK insects, birds and their habitats. Saving water can come in the form of installing compact quality in their communities. fied there within the last few years. Forest important to know some basics: Sometimes it’s stretch that small habit changes done by many people over time fluorescent light bulbs, cutting back on the meat you consume WATERSHED have a big impact on improving local water resources. wildlife like deer, raccoons, skunk, squirrel, obvious our property drains to a particular body of or even adding organic recycling to your waste mix. All have WATER WE SHARE opossum and chipmunks abound. Also abun- water; sometimes it’s not. Those living in the Bassett CHALLENGES AHEAD an impact on your daily water demand. 4. BUILD A RAIN GARDEN We all live in a watershed and watersheds dant are water loving mammals like beaver, Creek watershed may not be aware that runoff from Our lakes and streams today face difficult Rain gardens are simply gardens with depressions that are environmental challenges. Harmful terrestrial and designed to catch rainwater runoff in your yard, growing plants 11. GET INVOLVED CREEK come in all shapes and sizes. They cross county, Osprey: Photo by Dan Johnson Snapping Turtle: Photo by Ted Hoshal their property eventually gets to a lake or creek and There are plenty of things you can do with little effort and you muskrat and mink. The occasional northern that tolerate getting partially flooded on occasion. They provide into the Mississippi River. Even if you live several aquatic invasive species have altered the ecosystems certainly don’t have to be a water scientist. Monitor a local lake state, and national boundaries. A watershed is river otter has even surfaced recently at beautiful landscaping and wildlife habitat. And, by soaking up blocks or miles from the nearest creek or lake, and have sometimes taken over uplands and waters. or wetland. Organize a fall clean-up. Learn to identify and an area of land that drains to a common lake, rain where it falls, they slow stormwater runoff, help prevent Medicine Lake. All these and many more play Increasing population density and development control invasive species. Join a lake or neighborhood BASSETT stream, or river. runoff from your property drains through erosion, and remove pollutants in the process. an important role in a healthy watershed storm sewer pipes under your street—essentially have put pressure on open space and have increased association. Participate. It’s the way change begins. ecosystem. turning every curb into a shoreline. hard surfaces. Parking lots, rooftops, and roadways 5. NATURALIZE YOUR SHORE You don’t have to live on a lake or creek to do this. Think 12. TELL A FRIEND Storm sewer systems are an important part of quickly shed water (rather than letting it soak into Share your changes with others. Tell them how easy it was. the of of your street front as shoreline. Plant some native trees and the ground), carrying pollutants and increasing Help them get started. Make your efforts multiply. city infrastructure. They are designed to protect shrubs. Create a buffer that attracts bees, birds and wildlife. structures and property from floods, by quickly and flows in our streams. Nutrients like phosphorous Reduce the size of your lawn. Remember you live in a efficiently conveying water from parking lots, from fertilizers and chlorides from road salt, watershed. We’re all in this together. SECRETS rooftops, and roads. Unlike the sanitary sewer accumulate and affect the ecological function of our CLEAN WATER systems that treat wastewater collected from lakes, streams and wetlands. These pollutants have 6. RECYCLE EXPIRED MEDICATIONS Never put these in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Look IS NO SECRET. inside the home, storm sewer systems do not treat degraded some of our lakes and streams such that for a secure Hennepin County medical waste recycling run off water before discharging it into a they no longer meet State water quality standards. container at a public facility near you. PASS IT ON! water body. Photo by Dan Johnson Deer Crossing: Photo by Dan Johnson Eventually, a lack of jurisdictional authority HOW WELL DO YOU would pave the way for unsavory and ill- HIGHEST DIVER SECRETS of the BASSETT CREEK WATERSHED August 28, 1891 — World-famous high- KNOW YOUR BASSETT mannered crowds that would soon spell the diver Joseph Louvenmark dives 60 feet from a brewery and park’s demise.
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