Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District approves new rules despite some lake homeowners' opposition

Despite some southwest metro lake homeowners' opposition, new watershed district rules were unanimously approved Nov. 5.

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District's board of five managers voted on the new rules, which include starting to oversee the granting of permits when homeowners, developers, west metro cities or others make changes that could affect waterways in the watershed.

The watershed district covers parts of Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Chaska, Chanhassen, Deephaven, Minnetonka and Shorewood.

"We're excited to move on and get some things going," said Perry Forster, president of the watershed district's board.

The district, which says it's one of the few in the metro area without rules, had them in place for decades until suspending them in 2007. Now it plans to reinstate the rules by this spring after they are presented to the seven west metro cities' leaders.

About a year ago, the watershed started drafting rules and held public hearings, saying they will help better preserve creeks, wetlands and lakes.

"I think people realized looking at these rules that they were good rules," said district administrator Claire Bleser. "It's one way to protect our resources." She said the district's board delayed voting on the rules to gather more community feedback and continue to revise them. "We really listened," she said. "And I think we found a really good middle ground."

"We brought up a lot of significant … valid points; I think they finally started taking this input seriously," said Anne Florenzano, who lives on Riley Lake in Eden Prairie and opposed the watershed district getting back into the permitting business. "Ultimately we are very dedicated to our lakes. And this [rules and permitting] isn't helping."

Outcry over a rule requiring building of a buffer after certain projects led the district to amend it so it no longer applies to single-family homes.

Eden Prairie, the largest community in the watershed district, weighed in earlier this year, asking for changes so the rules were consistent with rules in the Nine Mile Watershed District.

Florenzano said lake residents are grateful that the watershed district made changes before approving the rules, but she said there are still unresolved issues.

"We're going to stay on our toes, stay on their toes, watching how this unfolds," she said.

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141