Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District
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Permits & Rules                                                                                                               The PLSLWD is developing rapidly. While this development brings many positive benefits and opportunities to the area, if not handled carefully it can create problems with water resources. Development and

Permitting & Rules Updates

1. 2006 Watershed District Permit Fee Deposit and Permit Security Requirements

other land-altering activities can affect the amount of runoff in the District (both

rate and volume) and degrade the quality of that runoff. If left unmanaged, runoff stresses our streams, ages our lakes, and degrades and eliminates our wetlands.

PLSLWD Rules
To address these concerns, the District developed rules to protect public health, welfare and natural resources by regulating the improvement or alteration of land and waters within the District. The rules are designed to accomplish the following goals:

  • reduce the severity and frequency of high water,
  • preserve floodplain and wetland storage capacity,
  • improve the chemical and physical quality of surface waters,
  • reduce sedimentation,
  • preserve the hydrologic and navigational capacities of water bodies,
  • promote and preserve natural infiltration areas, and
  • preserve natural shoreline features.
All land disturbing activities, whether or not they require a permit, are to be undertaken in compliance with the standards and criteria of these rules and with best management practices.

Permitting Program
Example of a Silt Fence
Example of a Silt Fence near new residential construction.

The District implements its rules in part through a permitting program for new and re-development. A permit is required for all land-disturbing activities within the District that will disturb more than 10,000 square feet of land in shoreland protection zones (i.e. near a lake, wetland or the outlet channel of Prior Lake), or one acre of land elsewhere. PLSLWD has agreements in place with the Cities of Prior Lake and Savage to carry out permitting issuance and inspection activities. If you live within one of these cities please contact their engineering or water resources departments for more information on permit requirements. Those who do not live within the city limits or will be effecting District land or easements are still required to be permitted through the PLSLWD.

To assist those who still require a PLSLWD permit, the District has developed a Permit Information & Rules handbook [2.2 MB]. The handbook describes the District's permitting requirements and includes forms, checklists, and a copy of the permit application.

For more information about the District's permitting program, including application deadlines, contact the District office at 952-447-4166.

In addition to local municipality permits, a construction stormwater permit from the MPCA may also be required before construction begins.

Additional Contacts and Resources
City of Prior Lake http://www.cityofpriorlake.com
City of Prior Lake Engineering Dept http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/engineering_permits.shtml
City of Prior Lake Water Resources Dept http://www.cityofpriorlake.com/WaterResources.shtml
City of Savage http://www.ci.savage.mn.us
City of Savage Engineering Dept http://www.cityofsavage.com/DepartmentsAndServices/Engineering/index.html
City of Savage Water Resources Dept http://www.cityofsavage.com/DepartmentsAndServices/Engineering/engineering_water.html
City of Shakopee http://www.ci.shakopee.mn.us
Spring Lake Township http://www.springlaketownship.com
Scott County http://www.co.scott.mn.us
MPCA Construction Stormwater Permit http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/stormwater/stormwater-c.html
Site Design Resources and BMPs
Urban Small Sites BMP Manual http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment/Watershed/BMP/manual.htm
MPCA Protecting Water in Urban Areas Manual http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/pubs/sw-bmpmanual.html
Center for Watershed Protection Stormwater Practices for Cold Climates http://www.cwp.org/Resource_Library/Special_Resource_Management/coldclimate.htm
International Storm-water Best Management Practices Database http://www.bmpdatabase.org/
MN PCA - Plants for Stormwater Design http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/manuals/stormwaterplants.html

 

 

Ph: (952) 447-4166          Fax: (952) 447-4167          Email: info@plslwd.org
14070 Commerce Ave NE, Suite 300           Prior Lake, MN  55372          See Map to Our Office

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