The North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization is a government unit formed through a joint powers agreement signed by eight townships and three small cities in southern Dakota County. The WMO jurisdiction covers approximately 150 square miles over the southern third of Dakota County and includes all or part of the following communities.

Castle Rock Township Douglas Township Eureka Township Greenvale Township Hampton Township Randolph Township

Sciota Township Waterford Township City of Miesville City of New Trier City of Randolph

The WMO does not include a small portion of the City of Northfield that extends into southern Dakota County. The WMO includes the sub-watersheds of Chub Creek, Trout Brook, and Pine Creek, and the Cannon River from Northfield to Lake Byllesby. The WMO is extremely rural in nature with agriculture as its primary landuse.

Watershed Management Goals:

• Natural Area Protection: To promote the protection, expansion, and restoration of high quality natural areas throughout the watershed including wetlands, woodlands, prairies, and riparian corridors (preferably in large contiguous tracts of land) for the betterment of water-based recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and water quality.
• Wetlands: To protect wetlands from destruction or deterioration due to development, drainage, agriculture, and other adverse activities.
• Groundwater: To protect groundwater quality and quantity.
• Soil Erosion: To reduce soil erosion throughout the watershed.
• Surface Water and In-stream Habitat Quality: To protect and improve the surface water quality and in-stream habitat of streams, rivers, and lakes such that each water body is "fully supporting" for its use designation according to Water Quality Standards (MN Rules Chapter 7050) and PCA's "Water Quality Criteria - Aquatic Life Use Support in Rivers and Streams."
• Surface Water Quantity: To decrease the rate and volume of water that may contribute to flooding or non-point source pollution from overland runoff and/or dewatering activities.
• Development: To protect groundwater, surface water, wetlands, and natural areas from accelerated development pressures.
• Information and Education: To inform landowners, children, and local units of government, about the watershed and human impacts on water quality and quantity, and to invite public participation in watershed management processes.
• Evaluation: To evaluate the NCRWMO and its member communities on their progress towards meeting the goals and performing the strategies outlined in this plan. While the strategies associated with these goals include some ordinance requirements for individual member communities, the WMO will not act as a permitting authority.