Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District

09/14/2026

Thanks for the shout-out, Eden Prairie Local News! We're excited to go head to head with Nine Mile Creek Watershed District to get more of our residents involved in the important work of keeping our storm drains clean!

Residents of Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek and Nine Mile Creek watershed districts are eligible for prizes in the districts' storm drain adoption and cleaning challenge this fall.


https://eplocalnews.org/2026/09/11/two-local-watersheds-invite-you-to-compete-in-the-grate-drain-race/

Adopt-a-Drain MN

09/10/2026

Do you live in an HOA? Send this to your board! 📣

We're hosting a workshop to help HOA leadership learn how they can improve stormwater management and save money! Attendees will learn about what stormwater management is and why it is important. We will cover benefits such as water resource protection, flood and property damage protection, and cost savings. We will also briefly introduce some of the common best management practices for stormwater management, their specific benefits, maintenance requirements, and why this is all important specifically to HOAs.

Registration for this October 27th workshop is live on rpbcwd.org/hoa-stormwater-management.

09/03/2026

Join the battle to keep stormdrains clean in The 'Grate' Drain Race! From now through November, adopt a drain and clear the debris often to be entered to win a raffle prize. Two watersheds going head to head, who will win?
Adopt-a-Drain MN

09/02/2026

ACHOO! Allergy season is returning!

The bright yellow flowers might draw your attention, but it is a common misconception that goldenrod causes seasonal allergies. Goldenrod plants are keystone species that help to support our local ecosystems, particularly migrating pollinators. Late-summer blooms are especially important before the long journeys these pollinators undertake. These plants even improve water quality with their long roots! Instead of shaming goldenrod, enjoy its' gorgeous blooms and add it to your garden.

If you're searching for a plant to blame, keep an eye out for ragweed! These plants release over a billion pollen grains in a season. Ragweed is also wind-pollinated, meaning that its' pollen is light and caught by the breeze, leading to more pollen reaching our noses.

09/01/2026

One month left to enter our photo contest! 📸

We want to see your best photographs from ALL seasons around our district. Photos can feature our lakes, streams, parks, wildlife, plants, recreation, or anything else outdoors that inspires you!

Winning photos will be featured in our 2027 wall calendar, with $50 for the winning cover photo and $20 for each of the 12 monthly featured images. Submissions are due September 30th, 2026 and will be judged by RPBCWD staff and our Citizen Advisory Committee.

Learn more and submit a photo at rpbcwd.org/photo-contest.

Photo by Yoko Yamasaki, Purgatory Creek

08/28/2026

Worried you missed the window to plant a new native garden this year? Don't fret - fall is actually a great time to plant! The cooler air temperatures are less stressful for new transplants, but the soil is still warm, creating ideal conditions for the plant to focus on root growth. This results in resilient plants that have a big head-start in the spring compared to if you wait until then to plant.

If you're an RPBCWD resident, you can still get up to $500 towards a fall native planting project with our mini-cost share program: rpbcwd.org/mini-cost-share 🍂

Fall might be Minnesota’s most underrated season for planting native perennials. While we think of gardening during spring, there are…

08/27/2026

Aquatic plants play an essential role in the health of a lake's ecosystem. They help reduce shoreline erosion, support aquatic life, maintain clean water, and more! Removing these plants in large quantities can have negative effects on water quality and lake health. Any removal of aquatic plants requires a permit from the DNR. Learn more about aquatic plants at rpbcwd.org/aquatic-plants.

08/18/2026

We look forward to welcoming Jessica Loftus to our Board of Managers! A resident of Deephaven, Loftus brings over 15 years of experience in city management, including terms as the City Administrator for the cities of Tonka Bay and Orono. Loftus' first meeting of her term on the RPBCWD board will be at the August regular meeting of the Board of Managers tonight at 7:00pm. Welcome, Manager Loftus!

Hennepin County has appointed Jessica Loftus to fill a seat on the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) Board of Managers. Loftus…

08/14/2026

Thanks for highlighting our lakes, Eden Prairie Local News! We're proud of the work the district and our partners have done to improve the water quality of Riley, Rice Marsh and Hyland lakes.

Lake Riley, Rice Marsh Lake and Hyland Lake are poised to leave Minnesota’s impaired waters list after years of work to improve water quality.