Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District

PLSLWD enforces District rules through an active permit program.

District Rules

As required by state statute, Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District (PLSLWD) establishes rules to ensure the protection of water resources and natural resources within the District. Updated rules were adopted on May 10, 2022, and became effective on June 1, 2022.

View the District Rules

Rules Enforcement (Permitting)

Projects in the City of Savage, City of Prior Lake, Sand Creek Township or Spring Lake Township

PLSLWD collaborates with Local Governmental Unit (LGU) partners within the Watershed District to minimize permitting while still ensuring the protection of water resources and natural resources within the District.

The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District establishes Memorandums of Agreement (MOAs) with the following LGUs:

City of Prior Lake
City of Savage
Scott County (in relation to Sand Creek Township and Spring Lake Township)

Under the MOAs, the cities and County assume primary permitting authority within their areas of jurisdiction that are subject to the PLSLWD Rules, provided they have adopted official controls necessary to bring local water management into conformance with PLSLWD rules. A development project within the Watershed District in these cities or townships, will only require a City permit or County permit, with the following exception. If the development project includes or is in close proximity to a wetland or watercourse, the landowner will still need to work directly with PLSLWD to meet PLSLWD Rule J: Buffer Strips.

Permit Application

If a project is located in the City of Shakopee or is initiated by a city, Scott County, or the State of Minnesota, please contact the District to receive a permit application form (info@plslwd.org or 952-447-4166).

Reporting a Problem

Illicit Discharge

If you see anyone dumping any substance other than stormwater in roadside ditches and storm drains, please report it to the District by calling (952) 447-4166. For potentially hazardous materials and petroleum spills, call 9-1-1 first when there is an immediate threat to life or property.

Read our Illicit Discharge Fact Sheet to learn more about identifying illicit discharges.

Construction Project

If you observe an existing or potential water resource hazard on a construction site (e.g., dirty water running into a lake, or storm drain in the street, or open containers of hazardous materials near a lakeshore) please call us as soon as possible at (952) 447-4166.

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District is required to implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) delegates responsibility for implementing the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II Permit to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and the MPCA in turn requires local governments, including the Watershed District, to implement its SWPPP to meet the NPDES permit requirements. The Watershed District’s SWPPP incorporates structural, procedural, and operational practices that help prevent contamination of stormwater prior to discharge into surface waters.

View the District SWPPP