Thank you for visiting the website for the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization VLAWMO’s mission is to protect and enhance the water resources within the watershed. Activities we work on include water quality monitoring, wetland protection, water quality enhancement projects.
The watershed approach to protecting our vital water resources has become the primary approach across the country. Since water flows across political boundaries, partnerships among local governments, regional, state and federal agencies are vital. Land and water stewardship protects not only protect local resources, but also those downstream from pollution and degradation.
VLAWMO covers approximately 25 square miles in the northeast metropolitan area. The watershed encompasses the City of North Oaks and portions of the Cities of White Bear Lake , Gem Lake , Vadnais Heights , Lino Lakes , and White Bear Township .
VLAWMO works in conjunction with the St. Paul Regional Water Service (SPRWS) on many water quality monitoring and improvement projects. Water from the Mississippi River is pumped through a chain of lakes (Charley – Pleasant – Sucker – Vadnais) and Vadnais Lake is used as the drinking water reservoir for the City of St. Paul. Lambert Creek flows through the VLAWMO watershed and enters Vadnais Lake as well. Click here to learn more about projects VLAWMO and SPRWS have worked on recently.
VLAWMO is governed by a Board of Directors and has a Technical Commission and Citizen’s Advisory Committee.
To learn more about the organization and governance of VLAWMO, click here .
Join us for the Shallow Lakes Workshop Click here for more information.
Whitaker Pond Construction & Flume 2 Replacement Beginning in mid December Landwehr Construction will start to work on improvements to Whitaker Pond and the channel downstream of the Dillon storm sewer. VLAWMO has partnered with the City of White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Ramsey County and the St. Paul Regional Water Service to improve the effectiveness of the pond and forbay, and to enhance the water quality leaving Whitaker Pond. Click here for a basic design map .
For more information, click here .
In addition to the Whitaker Pond project, a flume located at Centerville Road & County Road F will be replaced. For more information about this project, click here .
Upcoming Meetings Board of Directors meeting will be February 24, 2010 at 7pm and the next Technical Commission meeting will be February 12, 2010 at 7:30am. The Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting for February 11, 2010 at 7:00pm. All meetings will be held at Vadnais Heights City Hall.
2009 VLAWMO Monitoring Report 2009 Monitoring Report
Raingarden Video Available on YouTube VLAWMO and its Citizen Advisory Committee, along with the Ramsey Conservation District and the Metro Association of Conservation Districts worked together this summer to produce a Raingarden Video to educate homeowners about the benefits of these landscape features and provide information about how they can implement one on their properties. This video has been distributed to all the metro counties to be played on local cable access channels. Additonally, the video is available on YouTube in three 10 minute sections. To access the YouTube videos, you can search for "Watersmart Landscaping: Raingardens" or click on the links below:
Watersmart Landscaping: Raingardens - Part 1
Watersmart Landscaping: Raingardens - Part 2
Watersmart Landscaping: Raingardens - Part 3
VLAWMO is now on Facebook! Facebook . We will post up to date information on the Facebook page - as well as here on the VLAWMO website. If you are on Facebook, search for VLAWMO and become a fan. That way you will get updates whenever you log into Facebook. If you have any questions, please contact Kristine Lampert .
Learn how to build a raingarden How to Install a Raingarden .
Storm Sewer Utility (SSU) Rates Approved for 2010 Click here to learn more about how the 2010 rate was determined.
Second Gilfillan Lake SLMP Meeting click here .
Let VLAWMO help you with your landscaping projects! Click here to find out more about our Cost Share Program. A listing of native plant suppliers and landscapers can be found on the Blue Thumb Website as well as on the DNR website .
Want to be involved? Citizen’s Advisory Committee . If you are interested in helping VLAWMO protect and enhance our lakes and streams, please join us to learn about the different ways you can help. Please contact Kristine Lampert at 651-204-6074 for more information.
Watershed Management Policy Watershed Management Policy was approved by the Board of Directors in 2009. The policy provides a framework for implementation of the Third Generation Water Management Plan by Local Water Planning Authorities (municipalities and counties). The policies protect the public health, safety, welfare and natural resources under VLAWMO's jurisdiction by regulating the improvement or alteration of land and waters within the watershed.
Tamarack & Fish Lake SLMP Complete The Sustainable Lake Management Plan (SLMP) for Tamarack & Fish Lakes is complete. Click here to access the report .
