EDEN PRAIRIE
COMMUNITY GUIDE 2026
Watershed Districts: Protecting Local Resources
Watershed districts focus on managing and protecting natural resources through land use planning, permitting, and education with the help of staff, advisory committees, consulting engineers, partners, and governing boards. Defined as all land area that drains— or“ sheds”— to a specific water resource, such as a lake or stream, these local units of government spread across many cities and counties, with three watershed districts intersecting in Eden Prairie.
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District was formed in 1959 as the fourth watershed district established in the state. It encompasses about 50 square miles of surface area around Nine Mile Creek. The district is located in Hennepin County and includes parts of Eden Prairie, Bloomington, Minnetonka, Edina, Hopkins, and Richfield.
The main stem of the creek is 15 miles long, and the south fork of the creek is 8.5 miles long. The creek received its name from the distance measured southwest from Fort Snelling to where the Old Shakopee Trail intersected with the creek, a 9-mile trek.
This watershed district is governed by a board of managers appointed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. In late 2014, the district opened its scenic headquarters, the Nine Mile Creek Discovery Point, at 12800 Gerard Drive in Eden Prairie. Visitors learn best practices in water management and conservation in a natural setting. The 5-acre site connects to walking trails and a wetland.
Visit ninemilecreek. org to learn more and view upcoming programs.
The Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District was formed in 1969. The district functions to protect and manage the water resources within its boundaries, which cover approximately 50 square miles and include the land area tributary to Riley Creek, Purgatory Creek, and Bluff Creek in Hennepin and Carver counties. A five-member board of managers governs the district under policies, procedures, and bylaws established in its governance manual.
This watershed district includes areas in Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Minnetonka, Bloomington, Deephaven, Shorewood, and Chaska. The main office is located at 18681 Lake Drive East in Chanhassen. To learn more, visit rpbcwd. org.
The Lower Minnesota River Watershed District was founded in 1960 following a petition filed by Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Scott counties. The district occupies an 80-square-mile boundary and features the Minnesota River Valley, stretching from the city of Carver in the west to the confluence with the Mississippi River near historic Fort Snelling and the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport in the east.
The watershed district includes areas in Bloomington, Burnsville, Carver, Chanhassen, Chaska, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Lilydale, Louisville Township, Mendota, Mendota Heights, Savage, Shakopee, and Spring Lake Township. Among its duties of protection and management of natural resources, the agency also supports channel maintenance and commercial barge navigation on the Minnesota River.
Visit lowermnriverwd. org to learn more.
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