Spring Flooding in Edina Poses Significant Threat

The national news media probably won’t bypass Fargo to come to Edina, but like the often-beseiged city on the banks of the Red River of the North, Edina could face some serious flooding this spring.

Approximately 100 Edina homes and a prominent church are at risk if flooding occurs on Minnehaha and Nine Mile Creeks, Arrowhead Lake and the Lake Cornelia and Garrison Ponds.

The City of Edina is providing sandbags to the threatened homeowners as well as to St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Wayne Houle, head of the city’s public works department, told the city council last week that the rate at which the heavy snowfall from this winter melts, combined with the amount of rain that hits the region this spring, will determine the severity.

“The Minnehaha and Nine Mile Creek Watershed districts have been, and will continue to, perform modeling studies,” Houle said. “Both creeks and a few lakes and ponds have the potential for extensive flooding.”

Residential areas that could be affected by an overflowing Nine Mile Creek are largely located between Brooke Drive and 70th Street and along Valley Creek Road.

Flooding of Minnehaha Creek would be potentially serious by Cascade Lane, 56th Street, Woodcrest Drive, Woodland Road, Abbott Place and Zenith Avenue.

The city is prepared to provide up to 26,000 sandbags and is doing extensive checking and testing of pumps and lift stations. The city will drop off and later retreive the sandbags to properties considered at risk. While the property owners are responsible for installing the sandbags, the city will advise residents on how and where best to do so.

Other residents who think they are vulnerable can come to the old public works facility at 5146 Eden Ave. to get materials and fill their own bags.

The Rev. Neil Willard, rector of at 50th and Wooddale, said the church has had problems in the past with flooding from Minnehaha Creek, which runs along the south end of its property.

“Several years ago, improvements were made to the property to diminish flooding and the ensuing damage, but we are still planning to sandbag this spring,” he said.

What are needed are volunteers to help fill the bags.

The city is dispensing information a number of ways. Calls can be made to Edina's Utility Engineer Jesse Struve at 952-903-5713. He is also the person to call regarding volunteering to fill sandbags.

Representatives of both watershed districts echoed the potential seriousness of the situation.

Kevin Bigalke, administrator of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District said the region could potentially see the worst flooding of the creek in 100 years.

Telly Mamayek, spokesperson for the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, said unknown factors such as the timing, frequency and amount of rainfall will be huge in determining the severity of the situation.

“We also are directly affected by how much water will be in Lake Minnetonka, which is the headwaters for Minnehaha Creek,” she said.