Who we are

The Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) is a local, special unit of government with a boundary based on the watersheds of Riley, Purgatory, and Bluff creeks. It was established on July 31, 1969, following a petition by local property owners to the Minnesota Water Resources Board. The purpose of RPBCWD is to protect and improve the water resources of our communities.

Learn more about watershed districts at Minnesota Watersheds (formerly Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts or MAWD)

• What do Watersheds do? (url)
• Watershed District Handbook (pdf)
• Newsletters

Learn more about the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the state agency that directs soil and water conservation programs through the actions of watershed districts, cities, counties, and other organizations.

Where we're located

The boundary of the watershed district is based on the watersheds of the three creeks. The boundary encompasses portions of seven communities including Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Minnetonka, Bloomington, Deephaven, Shorewood, and Chaska. The district office is located at the border of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie near Dell Road.

What we do

When it rains, water that falls on the landscape drains toward a waterbody. This area of land is the body’s watershed. Anything that happens within a watershed impacts the lake, creek, wetland, pond, or aquifer it feeds. Watershed districts are charged with protecting and improving our communities’ water resources. Districts partner with local communities to identify top priorities and plan, implement, and manage efforts which protect and improve local water resources. They educate and engage residents, and the work they undertake benefits the quality and quantity of water in local as well as downstream watersheds and communities.