Rules and Permitting

District Rules

New rules were adopted on May 10, 2022 and will become effective on June 1, 2022.

Click HERE to download the revised District Rules

Rules Enforcement

Projects in the City of Savage, City of Prior Lake, Sand Creek Township or Spring Lake Township

The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District has a Memorandum of Agreement with the City of Savage and the City of Prior Lake where the Cities assume permitting responsibility within its areas of jurisdiction that are subject to the PLSLWD Rules. PLSLWD also has a Memorandum of Agreement with Scott County which covers projects which occur in Sand Creek and Spring Lake Townships. If a project falls within the Watershed District in these cities or townships, only a City permit or County permit will be required.  However, the project will still need to meet PLSLWD Rule J: Buffers if there is a wetland on the property and enter into a Development Agreement with the Watershed District.

WETLAND BUFFER REQUIREMENTS:

The PLSLWD’s Rule J Buffer Strips gets triggered when a property subdivides.  This Rule requires that a permanent conservation easement get established around any wetlands on the property.  Note that this easement is separate than the drainage and utility easements acquired by the City or the County. 

Typical process & timeline for completing conservation easements with PLSLWD:

1. Prior to preliminary plat approval:
   1. Wetlands are delineated on the property
   2. Development Agreement is signed between the Developer and PLSLWD 
   3. Escrow amount is provided to PLSLWD to ensure required establishment of the easements (amount varies by project)
2. Prior to final plat approval:
   1. Developer works with PLSLWD and a surveyor to create a legal description and map of the easement areas
   2. Title work is ordered and any existing encumbrances are addressed
3. After final plat:
   1. Final Conservation Easement documents are signed and recorded in Scott County (required within 30 days after final plat approval)
   2. Install buffer signs on posts on easement boundary corners
   3. Easement areas are restored with a native seed mix (unless in existing native plant cover)

Permit Application

Please contact the District to receive a permit application form (info@plslwd.org or 952-447-4166).

REPORTING A PROBLEM:

ILLICIT DISCHARGE
If you see anyone dumping any substance other than stormwater in roadside ditches and storm drains, please report it to the District by calling (952) 447-4166. For potentially hazardous materials and petroleum spills, call 9-1-1 first when there is an immediate threat to life or property.

Read our Illicit Discharge Fact Sheet to learn more about identifying illicit discharges.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
If you observe an existing or potential water resource hazard on a construction site (e.g. dirty water running into a lake or wetland,  open container hazardous materials in close proximity to a lakeshore, etc.), please call us as soon as possible at (952) 447-4166.