The Rice Creek Watershed District is a local unit of government established in 1974 to conserve and restore the water resources of the District for the beneficial use of current and future generations, to establish flood control project and measures, and to manage the public drainage systems located within the District. We accomplish these goals through the following activities: Managing lakes, streams, groundwater and wetlands Monitoring water quality Promoting best management practices to improve water quality Maintaining public drainage systems Inventorying natural resources Issuing permits / inspecting construction sites Administering the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) Educating residents about the environment and what they can to help Helping municipalities fulfill EPA mandates RCWD, located in the northern Twin Cities metro area, encompasses an area of approximately 201 square miles and includes portions of Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington counties and 26 municipalities.