Watershed Management Plan 10-year Plan Update Vadnais Heights, Minnesota (VLAWMO)

Background

The Vadnais Lake Area Watershed Management Organization (VLAWMO) formed in 1983. In 2017, they developed the current water management plan (WMP), which focused on water quality, stormwater management, regulation of pollutant sources, and preservation of wildlife habitat and endangered species.

As the WMP approached its 10-year mark, VLAWMO hired Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) for a strategic visioning process with its Board of Directors, and later to engage the community and its stakeholders and update the WMP. The intent of the updated WMP is to build on the foundation of goals and achievements of the previous plans, while evolving to meet the issues and goals of the next decade.

The Project

Our team began this process by working with VLAWMO staff to design and implement effective community outreach and engagement. This included events, workshops, virtual meetings, and surveys. One of the primary desired outcomes from community engagement was a better understanding of what issues are most important to the public, so the planning process can begin grounded in that feedback.

HEI worked in collaboration with VLAWMO staff to prioritize issues, set goals, and define implementation activities that form the basis of the WMP. At each planning milestone, HEI facilitated meetings with a large stakeholder group to present draft plan sections and allow for comments and revisions as the plan came together.

The draft plan was approved by BWSR in 2026. Its modernized design is both navigable and aesthetically pleasing to promote its use. The plan connects planned parter projects directly to plan issues and measurable goals, setting the pathway for seamless reporting, efficient implementation, and competitive funding requests.

Learn more about this plan update on VLAWMO’s website.