Taft-Legion Volume and Load Reduction Project
Overview
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) partnered with the City of Richfield to improve the water quality in Taft Lake and Legion Lake through a combination of project elements, including infiltration systems, a water treatment system to treat water from Taft Lake, native lakeshore buffers, and pre-treatment of runoff to Legion Lake. These strategies improve water quality by treating and filtering stormwater runoff and reducing the nutrient load in both Taft and Legion lakes, both of which drain into Lake Nokomis and ultimately Minnehaha Creek.
The City of Richfield led the design and construction of the project and manages ongoing operations and maintenance, while MCWD provided financial assistance for the design and construction.
Project Timeline
Planning Phase
Planning Phase
2010- Planning phase begins
2013 – Planning phase ends
Design Phase
Design Phase
2013 – Design phase begins
2015 – Design phase ends
Construction Phase
Construction Phase
2015 – Construction begins
2016 – Construction completed
Project completion
Project Completion
2016 – Project completed
By the Numbers
148
pounds
phosphorus removed annually
150
acre-feet
volume reduced annually
2
acres
native prairie established along Legion Lake
Project Highlights
- Habitat enhancement through the establishment of native prairie
- Reduced runoff volume to downstream Lake Nokomis
- Nutrient load reduction in Taft and Legion lakes
- Improved water quality for Lake Nokomis
Partnership
In 2011, MCWD and the City of Richfield signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) identifying the City’s desire to construct and operate a regional stormwater treatment facility. In 2013, MCWD and the City of Richfield signed a Cooperative Agreement to construct, operate, and maintain this water quality improvement project for Legion and Taft Lakes.
Funding
Project cost: $2,654,387
MCWD funded the entirety of this project’s construction, and the City of Richfield maintains and operates the treatment systems.
