Permits

CRWD issues permits to ensure stormwater runoff from development projects does not negatively impact the District’s lakes, rivers and wetlands. Impervious or paved surfaces on new development projects generate large volumes of runoff that may contain oil, salt, dirt, bacteria and trash, all of which contribute to poor water quality in CRWD. Water quality and stormwater management rules adopted by our Board of Managers govern all CRWD permitting requirements.  The Permitting Program primarily regulates construction sites that are more than one acre. CRWD requires erosion and sediment control during construction and installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to treat runoff after construction.

Stats

  • 36

    million gallons of runoff treated after 1" of rainfall

  • 467

    permitted projects to help the Mississippi River

Watershed Rules

As the primary water quality and stormwater runoff management entity within the watershed boundaries, CRWD helps protect the public interest and natural resources of the District by providing reasonable regulation of its lands and waters.

Starting in 2006, CRWD’s Board of Managers adopted water quality and stormwater management rules, as well as a permitting program to implement these rules. Under the current revision, CRWD issues permits for the following rules:

  • Stormwater Management (Rule C)
  • Flood Control (Rule D)
  • Wetland Management (Rule E)
  • Erosion and Sediment Control (Rule F)
  • Illicit Discharge and Connection (Rule G)

These rules require stormwater management permits for construction projects disturbing more than one acre of land. Most of CRWD is fully developed, making it necessary to utilize stormwater improvement technologies as part of redevelopment projects to reduce stormwater pollution to CRWD’s lakes, wetlands and the Mississippi River. In order to achieve CRWD’s goal of cleaner water resources, the rules require volume reduction practices that capture 1.1 inch of rainfall over all newly constructed impervious surfaces. This is most often achieved by infiltration of runoff into the soil.

We’ve also aligned rule requirements with Ramsey-Washington Washington Metro Watershed District to ensure consistent requirements across cities and counties that span watershed boundaries.

Capitol Region Watershed District Rules

Active Permits

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FAQs

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Technical Resources