Hiawatha Golf Course Water Management Project

minneapolis park and recreation board & barr engineering, Minneapolis, MN, 2020-2021

Background
The Hiawatha Golf Course is adjacent to Lake Hiawatha and portions of Minnehaha Creek, in Minneapolis, MN. Once a wetland, in the 1920s the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) created the course using dredged material from the bottom of Lake Hiawatha. Because of its location and high groundwater table, the course is frequently flooded. To keep the course operational and manage seasonal flooding, there are five pumps that are used to remove excess water. In 2020, the MPRB began a project to better understand the stormwater and groundwater interactions at the golf course to improve management efforts and avoid flooding.

Strengths & Solutions
Young Environmental worked under the direction of MPRB to direct and coordinate a team that included MPRB, City of Minneapolis, and a consultant team. Stormwater and groundwater have a large effect on the natural and built environments of the Hiawatha Golf Course and there is significant interest from the local community. The complex area includes shallow and deep aquifers; stormwater infrastructure; and neighboring homes—all of which are vital components to managing the environment. Young Environmental served as an independent project manager to objectively manage needs, input, technical work, and stakeholder expectations.

Project Impact
Following the study and significant data collection, we helped the MPRB develop a pump operation and maintenance plan and secure an appropriation permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The pump system ensures that the facility can successfully control flooding in response to seasonal snowmelt and large rainfall events. Not only do these tools help keep the golf course operational, but they protect adjacent homes from property damage and flooding.

Project Management, Stormwater Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Groundwater Pumping, Flood Control