Monitoring activities are performed each year within the watershed. Many of lakes in the watershed are sampled by volunteers as part of a Metropolitan Council program. The Washington Conservation District performs additional data collection on rainfall, watershed flows, lake levels and groundwater. This data collection is essential to understand trends in water quality and how to better manage flooding in the watershed.
The Monitoring Plan
Waterquality and quantity monitoring has been an on-going effort for the SWWD since 1996. The District will continue this initiative and partner with suitable entities to maintain the automated monitoring stations. Monitoring and data analysis relating to surface water flows, key infiltration areas, groundwater, lake levels and precipitation are expected to remain part of the District’s overall initiative. This Plan details the District’s ongoing programs.
Surface Water Monitoring
Contents: These documents contain a summary of methods and results for various surface water monitoring efforts by the Washington Conservation District (WCD). Generally, data is presented with respect to 8 lake levels, groundwater levels at 7 stations; stream flow discharge rate, volume and quality, runoff discharge rate and volume, precipitation; and, lake water quality for Armstrong and Powers Lakes. Discussion and interpretation of the results was outside the scope of the documents.
- Armstrong Lake
- Colby Lake
- Powers Lake
- Ria Lake
- Bailey Lake
- La Lake
- Markgrafs Lake
- Ravine Lake
- Wilmes Lake
- O’Conners lake
- 2009 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. April 2010
- 2008 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. June 2009
- 2007 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. May 2008
- 2006 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. May. 2007.
- 2005 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. Apr. 2006.
- 2004 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. Feb. 2005.
- 2003 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. Apr. 2004.
- 2002 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. Mar. 2003.
- 2001 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. Feb. 2002.
- 2000 South Washington Watershed District Monitoring. WCD. May 2001.
Contents: These documents contain the sampling results for the sites listed. To obtain the raw data in a database format, please contact the watershed district.
- Water Quality Data Abbreviation Descriptions
- Water Quality Data for 100th Street Site
- Water Quality Data for MS1 site
- Water Quality Data for MS2 site
- Water Quality Data for Powers Inlet Site
Infiltration Monitoring
Contents: Infiltration of stormwater has been shown to be a dominant component of the natural hydrologic system of the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD). The SWWD has been monitoring infiltration in the watershed as part of an Infiltration Management Study (IMS), which was initiated in 1997. A detailed description of past monitoring activities including infiltration monitoring, surface water quality monitoring, and groundwater quality monitoring can be found in the following reports:
Infiltration Monitoring Reports, by Emmons & Olivier Resources (EOR):
- 2005 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Feb. 2006 (4.5mb)
- 2004 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Feb. 2005 (6.6mb)
- 2003 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Feb. 2004 (3.4mb)
- 2002 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Mar. 2003
- 2001 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Nov. 2001 (1.0mb)
- 2000 Infiltration Monitoring Report. EOR. Nov. 2001 (1.0mb)
Data were collected at four natural infiltration basins including CD-P76, CD-P82, CD-P85 and CD-P86 and at two constructed infiltration trenches at CD-P85 and the Math and Science Academy (MSA). To obtain the raw data in a database format or the appendices for the reports, please contact the watershed district.
2007-2008 Frost/Snow Monitoring Report. Washington Conservation District. July. 2008.
At the request of the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD), the Washington Conservation District (WCD) conducted frost/snow monitoring at fourteen existing frost monitoring sites (Cottage Grove Ravine Park, CDP-85 locations, CDP-86 locations, and MS-1). This report summarizes the methods and results for monitoring conducted from November 27, 2007 to April 8, 2008.
2007-2008 Frost/Snow Monitoring Report. Washington Conservation District. July. 2008.