What is a Watershed Management Organization (WMO)?
In 1982, the legislature approved the Metro Surface Water Management Act, Chapter 103B of Minnesota Statues. The act requires local units of government in the seven-county metropolitan area to prepare and implement comprehensive surface water management plans through membership in a WMO.

The GCLWMO goals are designed to:

• Coordinate intercommunity and/or interagency storm water runoff, flooding, and other water quality issues;
• Maintain or improve the quality of water in lakes, streams, or rivers within or in proximity to the GCLWMO boundary;
• Protect and enhance water-based recreational facilities and fish and wildlife habitat;
• Educate the public on pertinent water resource management issues and increase public participation in water management activities;
• Protect and conserve the groundwater resource and encourage the infiltration of properly treated surface water to recharge groundwater;
• Protect existing wetlands and restore diminished or drained wetlands;
• Prevent and minimize the effects of sedimentation from erosion-prone areas;
• Conduct GCLWMO business in accordance with the Joint-Powers Agreement and the Watershed Management Plan;

• Watershed size: 33.2 square miles
• Mean Wind Speed: 10 mph
• Growing Season (Approximate): 166 Days
• Mean High Temperature: 73.2o F
• Mean Low Temperature: 12.8o F
• Mean First Below Freezing: October 13
• Mean Last Below Freezing: April 30