Coon Rapids Draws a Clear Line on Pet Waste, Citing Public Health and the Mississippi River

COON RAPIDS, MN

In a city braided by creeks and defined in part by its reach to the Mississippi River, the message from local officials is direct: clean up after your dog, or face a citation.

In a public notice posted Feb. 26, the City of Coon Rapids reminded residents that municipal code requires pet owners to immediately remove and properly dispose of dog waste left on public property or on private property without the owner’s consent. Violations are classified as a petty misdemeanor under city ordinance.

The notice references City Code Chapters 6-124 and 13-406, which together establish cleanup requirements in neighborhoods, parks, sidewalks, and other public rights of way. Chapter 6-124 addresses conduct related to animals, including the obligation to remove excrement. Chapter 13-406 reinforces that requirement on city-owned property and public spaces.

City officials frame the rule as more than a matter of courtesy. It is a public health safeguard and an environmental protection measure tied directly to the region’s watershed.

A Direct Path to Water

Unlike sanitary sewer systems, storm drains do not route runoff to a wastewater treatment plant. Rain and snowmelt flow through catch basins and pipes and discharge directly into nearby waters.

In Coon Rapids, that means runoff can carry pollutants into Coon Creek, Sand Creek, Pleasure Creek, Spring Brook, Crooked Lake, and ultimately the Mississippi River.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified pet waste as a contributor to stormwater pollution, noting that runoff can transport bacteria and nutrients into lakes and streams. Elevated bacteria levels can make waters unsafe for recreation, while excess nutrients such as phosphorus can fuel algae growth and degrade aquatic ecosystems.

Phosphorus in particular plays an outsized role in freshwater impairment. Even small amounts can stimulate large algae blooms. When algae die and decompose, oxygen levels in the water can drop, stressing or killing fish and other aquatic life.

Bacteria and Public Health

Pet waste can contain pathogens including E. coli and other microorganisms that pose health risks. High bacteria levels can trigger swimming advisories or closures and affect fishing areas.

For communities like Coon Rapids, which invest heavily in park systems, trails, and waterfront access, protecting water quality is tied directly to recreation, tourism, and quality of life.

Local Mitigation Efforts

The city works in coordination with the Coon Creek Watershed District to reduce stormwater pollution through infrastructure and education.

Pet waste stations have been installed along popular corridors such as the Sand Creek Trail and near the Mississippi River. According to watershed district reporting, tens of thousands of pounds of pet waste have been collected through these stations in recent years, preventing significant volumes of bacteria from entering the watershed.

Beginning in 2025, the city also launched a multi-year Enhanced Street Sweeping Program, supported in part by state funding. The initiative uses high-efficiency sweeping equipment to remove organic debris from streets before rainfall can wash it into the storm sewer system. Leaves, grass clippings, and animal waste are all targets of that preventive approach.

Enforcement and Responsibility

Under city code, failure to remove pet waste can result in citation. In cases where accumulation on private property becomes a nuisance, administrative enforcement measures may also apply.

Officials emphasize that compliance is straightforward: carry bags, remove waste immediately, seal it, and place it in a trash container. The rule applies year-round, including winter months, when waste left on snow can wash into waterways during the spring thaw.

A Small Act with Large Consequences

The ordinance may appear minor in scale, but its implications are regional. Every neighborhood storm drain in Coon Rapids is part of a larger hydrologic network that feeds into creeks, lakes, and eventually the Mississippi River.

In that context, a routine walk with a dog becomes part of a broader civic responsibility. The city’s reminder is simple, but its rationale runs deep: what is left on a lawn today can become tomorrow’s water quality problem downstream.

MinneapoliMedia