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Main Stem BAssett Creek

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About Main Stem Basset Creek

Bassett Creek is the defining hydraulic feature of the Bassett Creek watershed. The Main Stem of Bassett Creek begins downstream of the Medicine Lake outlet, which is located at the south end of Medicine Lake. The Main Stem flows southeast through Plymouth and then easterly through Golden Valley, Crystal, and Minneapolis. The last portion of Bassett Creek flows through a 1.7-mile long tunnel and enters the Mississippi River downstream of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam.

The drainage area upstream of the headwaters of the Main Stem of Bassett Creek is about 18 square miles. Two branches of Bassett Creek, the North Branch and the Sweeney Lake Branch, join the Main Stem between Medicine Lake and the tunnel. Ultimately the entire 39-square-mile drainage area of the Bassett Creek watershed is tributary to the Main Stem of Bassett Creek.

Much of the creek flows through highly developed areas where there is limited space fora vegetated buffer between the creek and the adjacent impervious surfaces. This environment increases the potential for streambank erosion and associated negative water quality impacts. The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) has performed stream restoration projects along multiple reaches of the Main Stem.

The BCWMC monitors the Main Stem's water quality at a location near the tunnel entrance in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council through its Watershed Outlet Monitoring Program (WOMP). The Main Stem of Bassett Creek is included on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Impaired Waters list. Impairments include aquatic life, due to chloride levels and fish bioassements, and aquatic recreation, due to fecal coliform bacteria levels. The Main Stem of Bassett Creek was included in the MPCA's Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL and Protection Plan, which was approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 and addresses the impairment due to fecal coliform.

Water Quality Data

Click thumbnails below to enlarge

Chloride

Daily Average Stream Flow

Biological Indicators (HBI)

Total Suspended Solids

Total Phosphorus

Bacteria


Quick Facts

Stream length (miles) 121
Size of drainage area (acres) 24,9002
Average flow (cfs) 25
Location of stream origin Plymouth (origin); Golden Valley; Crystal; Minneapolis
Downstream Receiving Waterbody
Mississippi River
MPCA Impairments Chloride; Fish Bioassessments; Fecal Coliform

1 Length of the Main Stem from the outlet of Medicine Lake to the entrance of the Bassett Creek Tunnel.
2 Cumulative tributary area, not including landlocked basins

main-stem-bc-banner.jpg

About Main Stem Basset Creek

Bassett Creek is the defining hydraulic feature of the Bassett Creek watershed. The Main Stem of Bassett Creek begins downstream of the Medicine Lake outlet, which is located at the south end of Medicine Lake. The Main Stem flows southeast through Plymouth and then easterly through Golden Valley, Crystal, and Minneapolis. The last portion of Bassett Creek flows through a 1.7-mile long tunnel and enters the Mississippi River downstream of the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam.

The drainage area upstream of the headwaters of the Main Stem of Bassett Creek is about 18 square miles. Two branches of Bassett Creek, the North Branch and the Sweeney Lake Branch, join the Main Stem between Medicine Lake and the tunnel. Ultimately the entire 39-square-mile drainage area of the Bassett Creek watershed is tributary to the Main Stem of Bassett Creek.

Much of the creek flows through highly developed areas where there is limited space fora vegetated buffer between the creek and the adjacent impervious surfaces. This environment increases the potential for streambank erosion and associated negative water quality impacts. The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC) has performed stream restoration projects along multiple reaches of the Main Stem.

The BCWMC monitors the Main Stem's water quality at a location near the tunnel entrance in cooperation with the Metropolitan Council through its Watershed Outlet Monitoring Program (WOMP). The Main Stem of Bassett Creek is included on the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Impaired Waters list. Impairments include aquatic life, due to chloride levels and fish bioassements, and aquatic recreation, due to fecal coliform bacteria levels. The Main Stem of Bassett Creek was included in the MPCA's Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL and Protection Plan, which was approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 and addresses the impairment due to fecal coliform.

Quick Facts

Stream length (miles) 121
Size of drainage area (acres) 24,9002
Average flow (cfs) 25
Location of stream origin Plymouth (origin); Golden Valley; Crystal; Minneapolis
Downstream Receiving Waterbody
Mississippi River
MPCA Impairments Chloride; Fish Bioassessments; Fecal Coliform

1 Length of the Main Stem from the outlet of Medicine Lake to the entrance of the Bassett Creek Tunnel.
2 Cumulative tributary area, not including landlocked basins

Water Quality Data

Click thumbnails below to enlarge

Chloride

Daily Average Stream Flow

Biological Indicators (HBI)

Total Suspended Solids

Total Phosphorus

Bacteria


Links


Projects

Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration Project: Golden Valley-Crystal Boundary (1,600 Feet Upstream of Highway 100) to Regent Avenue
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Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration Project: Wisconsin Ave to 10th Ave and Duluth St to the Crystal Border
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Bassett Creek Main Stem Restoration Project: 10th Avenue to Duluth Street
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