RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

What RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT does

Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) is a special-purpose unit of local government established on January 18, 1972 by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), covering approximately 186 square miles of urban and rural land across Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties and 28 municipalities in the Twin Cities metro. Its core mandate is flood control and water quality protection across the Rice Creek Watershed, executed through public drainage system management (116 miles across 22 systems in 3 counties and 16 cities), regulatory permitting, water quality monitoring, grant administration, and community education.

RCWD's technical platform combines a proprietary adaptive District Wide Hydrology Model (available by license agreement to private parties) with extensive water quality monitoring programs tracking phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, and Secchi disk transparency across lakes, streams, and ditches. Public-facing digital infrastructure includes an ArcGIS-based WBIF Projects Tracking Dashboard, a Public Drainage System Information Portal covering 27 historic drainage systems, the RCWD Data Viewer Map, and an MS4 Mapping Tool — collectively forming a GIS-centric data and transparency layer.

The district is funded primarily through property tax levies, state and federal appropriations (including the Metro WBIF program, where RCWD received $448,016 for FY24-25), permit application fees ($300 to $5,400 depending on project scope), and grant administration. It operates three grant programs (Mini-Grants up to $500, Water Quality Grants up to $10,000, and competitive Stormwater Management Grants), plus a 10-year Water Quality Grant Inspection Program. Service delivery relies on a ~17-person staff, three county conservation district partnerships (Anoka, Ramsey, Washington), and an extensive network of state agency (BWSR, MPCA, MnDNR), university (University of Minnesota), and nonprofit collaborators. RCWD is governed by a five-member Board of Managers appointed by the constituent counties and holds its statutory authority as the region's designated watershed manager.

Name

RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT

Legal name

Rice Creek Watershed District

Website

https://ricecreek.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rice Creek Watershed District is a Minnesota special-purpose government entity managing the 186-square-mile Rice Creek Watershed across four counties and 28 municipalities. It operates public drainage systems, regulatory permitting, water quality monitoring, three grant programs, and digital data portals serving residents, cities, counties, schools, and lake associations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watershed Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flood Control & Protection Infrastructure (Levees, Floodwalls, Gates, Pump Stations) (EUANAEAI), Watershed/Source Water & Raw Water Quality Monitoring (intakes, reservoirs, groundwater) (EUANAJAH), Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

Keywords

• Watershed management
• Water quality monitoring
• Stormwater management
• Public drainage systems
• Flood control

Headquarters

HQ city

Blaine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding and Tax Revenue: RCWD is a special-purpose unit of government established by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). Funded through property taxes and state/federal government appropriations for watershed management activities.
2. Permit Fees: Non-refundable permit application fees ranging from $300 to $5,400 depending on project type and scope. Additional review costs may be charged to applicants when engineer and legal counsel costs exceed $9,000.
3. Grant Administration: RCWD administers grant programs including Mini-Grants (up to $500), Water Quality Grants (up to $10,000), and Stormwater Management Grants for partners. RCWD also participates in Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Rice Creek Watershed District manages water resources across a 186-square-mile watershed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, issuing regulatory permits for development projects, administering cost-share grant programs for water quality improvements, maintaining 116 miles of public drainage infrastructure, and conducting water quality monitoring of lakes and streams. It is funded primarily through property taxes and state/federal appropriations, and operates as a special-purpose unit of government established by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources.

Product overview

Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) is a special-purpose government organization offering a portfolio of interconnected watershed management programs and services. The core offerings include three grant programs (Mini-Grants up to $500, Water Quality Grants up to $10,000, and Stormwater Management Grants for municipal projects), permit application services for development projects, and water quality monitoring programs. Supporting infrastructure includes a Public Drainage System managing 116 miles of drainage, a District-Wide Hydrology Model available by license, and several web-based data portals including an MS4 Mapping Tool, Data Viewer Map, and Public Drainage System Information Portal. The organization also provides outreach programs, educational resources, and community engagement opportunities for residents, schools, and local government partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mini-Grants Program Reimbursement grant program providing up to $500 to landowners and homeowners for smaller projects including native plants, rain gardens, pollinator gardens, rain barrels, and educational outreach activities.
• Water Quality Grants Program Cost-share grant program offering 25-75% funding (up to $10,000 maximum) for larger water quality improvement projects including rain gardens, shoreline restorations, prairie restorations, and wetland restorations for property owners, churches, and community organizations.
• Stormwater Management Grants Program Competitive cost-share grant program for cities, counties, school districts, and other public/private entities to implement stormwater management projects providing quality treatment, runoff volume reductions, peak runoff rate control, and groundwater usage reductions.
• Permit Application Services Regulatory permit application processing for development projects affecting stormwater management, erosion control, floodplain alteration, wetland alteration, and public drainage systems within the watershed district. Permit fees range from $300 to $5,400 depending on project type and scope.
• Water Quality Monitoring Program Comprehensive monitoring program tracking water quality indicators including phosphorus, nitrogen, chlorophyll, Secchi disk transparency, temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH in lakes, streams, and ditches across the watershed.
• Public Drainage System Management Inspection, maintenance, and repair services for 116 miles of public drainage system comprising 22 individual systems across three counties and 16 cities, administered under MN Chapter 103E.
• District-Wide Hydrology Model Engineering model providing adaptive management capabilities, continuously updated with landscape and infrastructure data, available by license agreement for private parties to develop specific plans.
• Water Quality Grant Inspection Program Maintenance inspection program tracking water quality grant projects throughout their 10-year lifespan with inspections at years 1, 3, 5, and 10, including self-inspection options for grantees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50-90% reduction in phosphorus levels from iron-enhanced sand filter installations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anoka Conservation District (ACD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free site visits and technical assistance to residents for water quality projects. Works with property owners on rain garden design, shoreline restoration, and other best management practices. Contact: Breanna Keith, Water Resources Specialist.
• Ramsey County Parks & Recreation Soil & Water Conservation DivisioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides technical assistance and site visits for water quality projects in Ramsey County. Contact: Tyler Keefer.
• Washington Conservation District (WCD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides free site visits and technical assistance for projects including urban and rural water quality practices. Contact: Ashley Petel and Angela Defenbaugh.
• Hennepin County (RCWD portion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCWD staff provides technical assistance for water quality projects in Hennepin County portions of the watershed.
• East Metro Water Resource Education Program (EMWREP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative program for water resource education. Partners on stormwater education, training videos, and outreach programs for MS4 communities.
• Blue ThumbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for native plant information, rain garden guidance, grant resources, and educational materials. Links residents to native plant suppliers and landscaping contractors.
• Metro Watershed PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration on watershed management and education initiatives across the metro area.
• Minnesota Water StewardsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram that certifies community leaders to prevent water pollution and educate community members. Residents can become certified stewards and volunteer in the watershed.
• Houston Engineering, Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting engineering firm providing technical expertise. Contact: Chris Otterness P.E., Consulting Engineer.
• Rinke NoonancoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal consulting firm providing counsel on district matters. Contact: John Kolb, Consulting Attorney.
• Redpath and CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccounting consulting firm providing financial expertise. Contact: Mark Gibbs, Consulting Accountant.
• Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funding administrator and facilitator for Watershed Based Implementation Funding (WBIF) program. Established RCWD on January 18, 1972.
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency partner in watershed management. Collaborates on water resource management and conservation activities.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministers MS4 permit program locally. Provides TMDL studies and water quality standards for impaired waters. Collaborates on stormwater management guidance.
• Washington Conservation District InspectorcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAaron DeRusha provides inspection services for Washington County areas. Contact: [email protected]
• Ramsey County SWCDcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJustin Townsend provides inspection services for Ramsey County areas. Contact: [email protected]
• Anoka County Water Resource Outreach CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for lakeshore stewardship education and outreach materials including YouTube videos on lakeshore and rivershore restoration.
• Friends of the Mississippi RiverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Stream Health Evaluation Project (SHEP) using trained volunteers to evaluate biological health of streams by sampling benthic macroinvertebrates.
• Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership on aquatic invasive species. AIS Detectors program trains volunteers to make credible reports to DNR. Collaborative carp management research.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with St. Anthony Falls Laboratory for wake surfing/wake boating research. Collaborates on carp management tools and aquatic invasive species research.
• Metro Children's Water FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRCWD sponsors this festival produced for 4th grade students in Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area teaching about water resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Elm Creek Watershed District: Minnesota watershed district in the northwest metro with similar responsibilities for water quality, drainage management, permitting, and grant administration. Comparable in mandate and scale.
• Valley Branch Watershed District: Minnesota watershed district operating under similar statutes with comparable focus on flood control, drainage, water quality monitoring, and development permitting.
• Minnehaha Creek Watershed District: Twin Cities metro watershed district managing water quality, flooding, and stormwater across a multi-jurisdictional service area. Comparable in size, regulatory authority, and program mix (grants, permits, monitoring, education).
• Capitol Region Watershed District: Adjacent Minnesota watershed district (St. Paul metro) that similarly manages drainage, water quality, permitting, and grant programs across a multi-municipal service area. Directly comparable in scope, regulatory mandate, and funding model.
• Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District: Minnesota watershed district sharing geographic overlap with portions of RCWD and operating the same core functions of regulatory permitting, water quality monitoring, and stormwater infrastructure management.
• Mississippi Watershed Management Organization: Minneapolis-area watershed organization operating under similar Minnesota statutes with regulatory authority over stormwater, water quality, and drainage in an urbanized multi-municipal basin. Closely comparable operating model.
• Nine Mile Creek Watershed District: Twin Cities metro watershed district providing water quality monitoring, regulatory permitting, and stormwater management services. Comparable in program structure and constituent engagement approach.

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR): State-level agency that established RCWD and administers the WBIF program, Conservation Reserve Program, and other statewide water/soil programs. Provides governance and funding framework that all metro watershed districts operate within.
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA): State regulatory agency that administers MS4 permits locally and provides TMDL studies and water quality standards for impaired waters. Provides regulatory framework and compliance oversight for RCWD operations.

Others

• Houston Engineering, Inc. Consulting engineering firm providing core technical expertise to RCWD and many other Minnesota watershed districts. Not a direct peer but an ecosystem enabler that delivers the engineering capacity watershed districts rely on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RiceCreekMtg
• Facebookfacebook.com/ricecreekwd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rice-creek-watershed-district
• Instagraminstagram.com/ricecreekwd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 RICE CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT