Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

What Mississippi Watershed Management Organization does

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is a joint-powers local government unit established in 1985 under Minnesota Statutes 103B, operating across 25,309 acres (39.5 square miles) of fully developed urban land draining into the Mississippi River. Its core function is to capture, treat, and reuse stormwater runoff through green stormwater infrastructure — including bioretention systems, permeable pavers, rain gardens, tree trenches, stormwater reuse systems, and constructed wetlands — implemented in partnership with eight member communities: Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, Lauderdale, Minneapolis, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, St. Anthony Village, and St. Paul. Governance is provided by a 7-member Board of Commissioners, and the organization is funded primarily through its ad valorem property-tax levy (granted in 2001, the first joint-powers WMO to receive it) and pass-through government grant programs.

MWMO operates a portfolio of programs rather than a unified product platform: capital and stewardship grant programs (Capital Project Grants averaging ~$370K with awards up to $750K, plus Community/Planning/Action grants of up to $5K/$20K/$50K); interactive GIS tools (Story Map and Path to the River, co-developed with Barr Engineering and the University of Minnesota U-Spatial Group); workforce development programs for Minneapolis youth (Mississippi River Green Team for ages 14-16 and Green Infrastructure Inspection Team/GrIIT for ages 16-18); community engagement programs (Adopt-a-Drain, Community Cleanups, Minnesota Water Stewards); educational outreach (school programs, art programs, River of Ideas podcast); and the 11,000-square-foot Stormwater Park and Learning Center in Northeast Minneapolis, which doubles as a working office, demonstration site, and meeting venue. Annual administration budget is $1.2M with $4.9M for capital improvement and initiatives, totaling roughly $6.1M.

The customer base spans municipal governments (the eight member communities plus broader metro-area projects with City of Minneapolis, Metro Transit, Hennepin County), nonprofits and community organizations (grantees such as Westminster Presbyterian Church, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Juxtaposition Arts), educational institutions (Hiawatha Collegiate High School), and select enterprises (Xcel Energy, Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Cemstone). MWMO does not sell services commercially; grant funding flows outward to eligible organizations, and revenue (levy + grants + administrative pass-throughs) flows inward from member-community property taxes and federal/state appropriations.

Name

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Legal name

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Website

https://mwmo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is a joint-powers local government unit, established in 1985 under Minnesota Statutes 103B, that protects water quality and habitat across a 25,309-acre urban watershed draining into the Mississippi River through green stormwater infrastructure, grant programs, and educational programming delivered to eight member communities in the Twin Cities metro area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Stormwater management
• Watershed management
• Green infrastructure
• Water quality monitoring
• Urban watershed protection

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ad Valorem Tax Levy Authority: MWMO became the first joint powers WMO to receive ad valorem levy authority in 2001, enabling implementation of plan goals through property tax revenue.
2. Capital Improvement Project (CIP) Funds: Federal and state grant funds administered through MWMO for large-scale stormwater infrastructure projects. Approximately $1 million in CIP Funds available annually for eligible projects.
3. Greening Program Funds: Dedicated funding for green stormwater infrastructure projects within public right-of-way coinciding with road, trail, sidewalk, rail line, or parking lot construction. Up to $1 million in Greening Program funds available annually.
4. Stewardship Fund Grant Program: Community grants ($5,000 max), Planning grants ($20,000 max with 25% match), and Action grants ($50,000 max with 25% match) supporting water quality and habitat projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MWMO is a joint-powers local government unit that manages water quality and ecological health in a 25,309-acre urban watershed draining into the Mississippi River. It delivers this through capital infrastructure projects, community grants, education programs, and workforce development initiatives serving 8 member communities in the Minneapolis metro area.

Product overview

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is a joint-powers government organization that protects water quality and habitat in an urban watershed draining into the Mississippi River. Rather than a unified software platform, MWMO offers a portfolio of programs, tools, and services centered on stormwater management and environmental stewardship. Core offerings include interactive tools (Story Map and Path to the River Tool), youth workforce programs (Mississippi River Green Team and GrIIT), grant funding programs (Capital Project Grants and Stewardship Fund Grants with three tiers), community engagement programs (Adopt-a-Drain, Community Cleanups, Minnesota Water Stewards), educational programs (School Outreach, Art Programs), and the Stormwater Park and Learning Center facility. The River of Ideas Podcast serves as a communications platform. These offerings work together to achieve MWMO's mission of protecting the watershed through capital projects, community grants, education, and workforce development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stormwater Park and Learning Center Public facility featuring demonstration gardens, green infrastructure exhibits, geothermal systems, and educational programming about water and the urban watershed. Open to visitors and used for school and community programs.
• Capital Project Grants Grant funding program for member communities and partners to implement water quality improvement capital projects within the watershed.
• Stewardship Fund Grants Small grants program supporting community-led stewardship projects that improve the watershed, available to nonprofits and community organizations.
• Mississippi River Green Team (MRGT) Workforce development program providing young adults with environmental stewardship job training, green infrastructure maintenance experience, and career pathways in the environmental sector.
• Green Infrastructure Inspection Team (GrIIT) Inspection program that monitors and maintains the function of green stormwater infrastructure installed across the watershed.
• Adopt-a-Drain Program Volunteer program in which residents and organizations adopt nearby storm drains and keep them clear of debris to prevent pollution from entering the watershed.
• Minnesota Water Stewards Program Certification program that trains community members as water resource stewards who then complete local capstone projects to improve water quality in their neighborhoods.
• School Outreach Programs K-12 educational programs that bring watershed science and stewardship into classrooms through in-school lessons and field trips to the Stormwater Park.
• Path to the River Interactive Story Map Interactive GIS-based educational tool that traces the urban watershed's journey from neighborhoods to the Mississippi River, used for public education and outreach.
• River of Ideas Podcast Audio podcast series covering watershed science, water quality, and environmental topics, produced for public audiences.
• Community Cleanups Organized volunteer cleanup events in the watershed that remove litter and debris from watercourses and green spaces.

Quantifiable outcome

• Site capable of absorbing up to 7 inches of rain in one day with no runoff to the river
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Barr EngineeringcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Engineering firm partnered with MWMO to develop Story Map and Path to the River interactive GIS tool. Tool uses MWMO stormwater models and topographic data to show how runoff flows from any point in the watershed to the Mississippi River.
• University of Minnesota U-Spatial GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Academic partner that collaborated with MWMO and Barr Engineering on development of the Story Map and Path to the River application, providing GIS expertise and research capabilities.
• Urban BoatbuildersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership brought canoe-building to the Mississippi River Green Team, where youth spent approximately 70 hours building a skin-on-frame wooden canoe over nine weeks.
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1985Founding member community and ongoing strategic partner in watershed management. Jointly operates Mississippi River Green Team (youth employment program for ages 14-16) and Green Infrastructure Inspection Team (GrIIT) program (ages 16-18). Collaborates on park projects incorporating green stormwater infrastructure.
• Conservation Corps Minnesota and IowaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for conservation and environmental stewardship programs. Connects volunteers with watershed protection and habitat restoration activities.
• Freshwater SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer partner providing opportunities for protecting rivers, lakes, and streams through conservation work.
• Friends of the Mississippi RiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer partner for watershed stewardship programs and volunteer outings.
• Great River GreeningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer partner for environmental stewardship and habitat restoration volunteer opportunities.
• Metro BloomsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for stormwater management and native plant landscaping programs. Collaborated on Blue Thumb education and outreach program and installation projects.
• The Nature ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in environmental career pathway programs. Featured Mississippi River Green Team program in national coverage of environmental youth employment initiatives.
• Mississippi Park ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner connecting volunteers with Mississippi River watershed conservation activities.
• Hennepin County Department of Environment and EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer partner providing environmental volunteer opportunities for community engagement.
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary workforce development partner operating Mississippi River Green Team and GrIIT programs for Minneapolis youth. Co-develops and maintains green infrastructure installations across Minneapolis park system.
• Minnesota Pollution Control AgencyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for water quality monitoring and environmental protection activities.
• Minnesota Department of Natural ResourcesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner providing conservation and natural resources management volunteer opportunities.
• Three Rivers Park DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for environmental stewardship programs.
• Tree TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for environmental and conservation volunteer programs.
• Wetland Health Evaluation ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for wetland assessment and environmental monitoring programs.
• Audubon MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for bird conservation and habitat stewardship volunteer programs.
• The Nature Conservancy of MinnesotaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner providing conservation volunteer and stewardship opportunities.
• Metro Area Children's Water FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as volunteer opportunity partner for children's water education programs.
• Hiawatha Reddy RentsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLongfellow Business Association partnership for stormwater control measures along Hiawatha Avenue commercial corridor.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization: Joint-powers watershed organization operating under MS 103B with similar grant programs and water quality / stormwater management mandate in the south metro.
• Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District: East metro Minnesota watershed district with parallel levy authority, grant programs, and water quality / stormwater infrastructure mission directly comparable to MWMO.
• Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District: Minnesota watershed district with similar regulatory powers, grant programs, and focus on stormwater management, water quality monitoring, and educational outreach in the southwest Twin Cities metro.
• Minnehaha Creek Watershed District: Another Minnesota watershed organization operating under the same Minnesota Statutes 103B framework with levy authority, similar grant programs, and a comparable stormwater management and water quality mission in the western Twin Cities metro.
• Lower Minnesota River Watershed District: Minnesota watershed district with similar grant offerings and stormwater / water quality mandate under the same statutory framework, though serving a more rural-urban mix in the southwest metro.
• Nine Mile Creek Watershed District: Twin Cities metro watershed district with similar regulatory authorities, cost-share grant programs, and BMP implementation focus on urban stormwater and water quality protection.
• South Washington Watershed District: East metro watershed district with parallel regulatory authority, cost-share programs, and a focus on stormwater management and water quality consistent with MWMO's mission.
• Capitol Region Watershed District: Joint-powers watershed district in the St. Paul area operating under MS 103B with comparable grant funding, capital project programs, and stormwater infrastructure mandate similar to MWMO.
• Valley Branch Watershed District: Joint-powers Minnesota watershed district with levy authority, project grant funding, and stormwater BMP focus comparable to MWMO's model.

Others

• Friends of the Mississippi River: Non-profit partner organization working on Mississippi River stewardship, habitat restoration, and volunteer engagement in overlapping geographies; complementary rather than competitive to MWMO.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MississippiWMO
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/mwmovideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/MississippiWMO
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mississippi-watershed-management-organization
• Instagraminstagram.com/mwmo_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mississippi Watershed Management Organization