The SMSC’s environmental stewardship includes wide-ranging efforts to protect, preserve, and restore all of our local water resources.

Our water stewardship efforts are reflected in the following ways:

• Extensive water monitoring program.
• Stormwater and wastewater treatment for reuse in the irrigation system.
• Our work to prevent and reverse the effects of water pollution.
• Maintaining two weather stations to track local conditions and long-term trends.
• Ongoing commitment to identify new and better ways to support healthy waters.

Surface Water

The Natural Resources Department helps care for the many lakes, ponds, streams, springs, and wetlands which are present on tribal lands. Activities include researching, monitoring, protecting, and improving these water features so that they continue to provide rich wildlife habitat and contribute to our Community’s well-being for generations to come.

The SMSC’s lands are perched above the Minnesota River and at the top of local watersheds, including the Prior Lake Outlet Minor Watershed, Lower Sand Creek Minor Watershed and City of Shakopee Minor Watershed. Protecting and improving SMSC waters has a direct effect on the quality of water flowing downstream to our neighbors.

For 25 years, the SMSC has monitored the health and water quality of its lakes, streams, wetlands, and springs. The SMSC’s Water Resources team collects data on compounds of concern including chloride, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and monitors biological indicators for aquatic health and measure properties like dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and the flow of water entering and leaving SMSC lands. All this work is done with the goal of ensuring that tribal waters are clean and provide a safe and healthy resource—for tribal members and surrounding communities—for generations to come.

SMSC’s water-centric best management practices include green roofs, pervious pavement, rain gardens, street sweeping, implementing a winter salt management plan, and using low-impact development principles.

Groundwater

The Natural Resources Department helps protect the aquifers that provide 100% of the drinking water on tribal lands. Activities include wellhead and overall groundwater management, sealing abandoned wells, and protection of the surface waters that ultimately feed groundwater sources. The production of drinking water and reclamation services are performed by the SMSC Public Works Department. 

Water Quality Monitoring

The Natural Resources Department staff have been sampling SMSC waterbodies for over 25 years to monitor indicators of aquatic health. This data is used to determine historical trends and guide management activities for SMSC lakes and streams.

A large component of local surface waters is stormwater runoff, which can transmit unwanted sediment, nutrients and other pollutants with it. Stormwater can also disrupt natural water temperatures and water levels. The SMSC employs a variety of techniques to reduce the impact of stormwater on our lakes and streams including rain gardens, green roofs, pervious pavement, street sweeping, infiltration areas and mitigation wetlands.

Best Managment Practices

Education and Outreach

Notable Water Projects