The city named the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District its latest Earth Action Hero, spotlighting an agency that's been quietly managing Bloomington's water for decades. The district covers Bloomington and five neighboring cities and works with residents, local governments and community groups to improve water quality, restore habitat, cut down on flooding and protect natural areas.
The district was formed in 1959, the fourth watershed district created under the state's Minnesota Watershed District Act. Its fingerprints are on some of Bloomington's most familiar landmarks: Normandale Lake was built in 1979 as a joint flood-control project with the city, and it's prevented significant flooding here ever since.
The city's recognition comes as the district pushes ahead on its biggest current project: a $1 million commitment from Bloomington's Capital Improvement Fund toward the Nine Mile Creek Corridor Renewal Project. The work aims to stabilize eroding streambanks, restore native vegetation, reconnect the creek to its floodplain and open up more public access to the natural areas along it.
"We see firsthand how clean lakes, healthy streams, restored wetlands and effective flood management benefit residents, businesses, wildlife and future generations," district president Larry Olson said.
The district is also mid-stream on its water management plan for 2027 through 2036, gathering input from advisory committees and residents, and it's running a handful of smaller resident-facing programs this year, including free soil nutrient testing through the University of Minnesota and a volunteer training on August 8 to help spot invasive starry stonewort algae in local lakes.