Blaine Approves Watershed Agreement to Address Longstanding Water Quality Issues

The Blaine City Council has approved a water quality agreement with the Coon Creek Watershed District, committing the city to a regional effort aimed at reducing elevated levels of phosphorus and E. coli in local waterways. The action represents another step in a multi decade strategy to bring impaired creeks in northern Anoka County into compliance with federal and state Clean Water Act standards.

Under the agreement, Blaine is responsible for approximately $400,000 of the remaining project costs. City officials describe the investment as both a regulatory obligation and a practical response to flooding, water pollution, and public health concerns that have persisted for years across interconnected watersheds.

A regional problem decades in the making

The Coon Creek Watershed District covers roughly 107 square miles of Anoka County, including large portions of Blaine, Coon Rapids, and neighboring communities. Since 2006, several streams within the district, including Coon Creek, Sand Creek, and Pleasure Creek, have been listed as impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Two pollutants drive those listings.

Phosphorus, largely carried by stormwater runoff, fuels excessive algae growth. When algae die and decompose, oxygen levels in the water drop, stressing or killing fish and other aquatic life. According to watershed science commonly cited by regulators, a single pound of phosphorus can generate hundreds of pounds of algae under the right conditions.

E. coli, a bacteria associated with human and animal waste, signals the possible presence of disease causing pathogens. Elevated levels can make waterways unsafe for swimming, wading, and other forms of contact recreation.

To address these impairments, the watershed district completed a federally required Total Maximum Daily Load study in 2016. That plan set pollutant reduction targets and established a long timeline, with a compliance goal extending to 2045.

From planning to construction

The Blaine agreement builds on a series of collaborative projects already underway or completed within the watershed.

One of the most visible is the Aurelia Park Pond project, which created new stormwater storage capacity to reduce flooding while filtering runoff before it reaches downstream creeks. Other initiatives include improvements along Pleasure Creek, which runs through parts of Blaine and Coon Rapids and is listed as impaired for both phosphorus and E. coli.

The current agreement supports the construction and operation of advanced filtration infrastructure, including biochar and iron enhanced sand filters. These systems are designed to capture pollutants that conventional stormwater ponds often fail to remove.

Iron filings within the filters chemically bind dissolved phosphorus, preventing it from moving downstream. Biochar, a highly porous charcoal material, traps bacteria including E. coli and helps reduce pathogen loads before water reenters the natural system.

According to watershed planning documents, similar installations are expected to remove tens of pounds of phosphorus annually and hundreds of billions of E. coli organisms each year, depending on flow conditions.

How the project is funded

The total cost of the watershed improvements is shared among multiple partners.

Blaine’s approximately $400,000 contribution represents its remaining financial responsibility under the agreement. State funding plays a significant role through Clean Water Fund grants supported by the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment. The Coon Creek Watershed District provides technical oversight, engineering support, and additional cost sharing.

City officials note that Blaine’s share is typically paid through its stormwater utility fund. Those fees are restricted funds collected specifically to maintain and improve drainage systems, water quality infrastructure, and flood mitigation projects.

Beyond construction: changing daily practices

The agreement also reflects a broader shift toward preventing pollution before it enters the water system.

Blaine has expanded its street sweeping program from approximately 107 lane miles per year to more than 323 lane miles annually. Removing leaves, grass clippings, and organic debris from streets is widely regarded as one of the most cost effective methods for reducing phosphorus, since much of it is bound to decaying plant material.

Pet waste management has also become a measurable part of the strategy. Since 2020, dozens of pet waste stations installed along trails and parks have diverted more than 55,000 pounds of waste from entering the watershed. That material contains both phosphorus and bacteria that would otherwise be washed into creeks during rainfall.

The Coon Creek Watershed District’s 2024 to 2033 Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan identifies these combined measures as essential to meeting federal pollutant limits and long term water quality goals.

What it means for residents

While the agreement is rooted in regulatory compliance, city and watershed leaders emphasize its local benefits.

Improved stormwater ponds and restored channels increase storage capacity during heavy rains, reducing localized flooding. Cleaner creeks and ponds enhance the recreational and visual appeal of parks such as Aurelia Park and Pleasure Creek, which can help support property values. Lower E. coli levels reduce health risks for residents, pets, and children who come into contact with local waterways.

For Blaine, the council’s vote signals continued participation in a regional approach that recognizes water does not follow city boundaries. Meeting Clean Water Act standards, officials say, will require sustained investment, coordination, and patience, but the agreement approved by the council moves that long term effort forward.

MinneapoliMedia