City Officials Cautious of Spring Flooding But Not Overly Concerned

St. Louis Park’s emergency management coordinator said he expects some flooding along the Minnehaha Creek this spring, but added that the rising water shouldn’t do too much damage to homes.

Luke Stemmer, who doubles as the city’s fire chief, said some backyards along the creek, along with sheds and other structures near the shoreline, may get flooded in mid-April. 

While homes should stay generally dry, that doesn’t mean the city isn’t getting prepared. Stemmer said the city has the supplies for 13,000 sandbags, which will be available to residents as they ask for them. Because flood damage isn’t expected to be too severe, Stemmer said city staff would likely not be out sandbagging around town.

However, that could change practically overnight. Another heavy snowfall, or a rapid warm-up — or both — could add a lot more water to the mix.

“It’s a dynamic situation,” Stemmer said.

In addition to having sandbag material ready, the city also sent out letters to roughly 250 residents who live near the creek, encouraging them to consider flood insurance, as standard home insurance doesn’t cover flood damage. Stemmer added that people interested in flood insurance should act quickly because there is a 30-day wait period for new applicants.

While the city of St. Louis Park is getting prepared locally, other area officials are as well. That includes staff at the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The district encompasses 181 square miles, and includes Minnehaha Creek, Lake Minnetonka, the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes and Minnehaha Falls.

For residents who might be affected by rising waters, the district has created an interactive tool to assess risks. The district will also be continually updating its website throughout the flood season with new maps, as well as working with cities to monitor water levels.

In Minnetonka, officials are keeping a close eye on Lake Minnetonka. Engineering estimates show that the lake’s water level may reach 930 inches, or 77.5 feet, later this spring, which would send water over the spillway next to Dam. This would trigger flooding of the Minnehaha Creek in St. Louis Park and elsewhere.

Still, the tune there is the same as in St. Louis Park — cautious, but not overly concerned.

“Minnetonka has wetlands and open space, which acts like a sponge to absorb excess water,” city spokeswoman Jacque Larson said. “Some may have higher water in their yards but we’re not concerned about structure flooding (or) creek flooding.”

- Minnetonka Patch Local Editor Katelynn Metz contributed to this report