Fish Creek
Fish Creek is a perennial, urban stream that originates at Carver Lake and ultimately discharges to Eagle Lake and the Mississippi River. The majority of the Fish Creek subwatershed is located in Ramsey County, with the southeastern portion in Washington County. The total area tributary to Fish Creek, including Carver Lake, is 3,055 acres.
Historically, Fish Creek experienced significant streambed erosion caused by increased stormwater flows. In the late 1980s, the District undertook a significant restoration project that included construction of drop structures along the length of the creek as well as construction of an underground pipe to handle flood flows in the steeper section of the creek. We continue to conduct maintenance on the creek to sustain that project.
Creek facts
- Tributary area: 783 acres
- Creek length: 1.8 miles
- Downstream waterbody: Eagle Lake
- MPCA designations: Impaired for e. coli; at risk for chloride
- Accountable municipalities: Maplewood, St. Paul, Woodbury, Ramsey County, Washington County
- Nutrient water quality classification: At Risk
Water Quality
Since 1996, the District has cooperated with the Metropolitan Council to monitor the flow and water quality of Fish Creek. The Metropolitan Council monitors the water quality of Fish Creek as part of its Stream Monitoring Program. The monitoring station is located in St. Paul, 0.2 miles upstream from the creek’s confluence with the Mississippi River. The program samples a number of dissolved and suspended solids, and performs a macroinvertebrate count on the creek. The most recent data available is from 2012, and is summarized in the 2014 report published by the Metropolitan Council. Click here for the Fish Creek fact sheet and here for the full Fish Creek chapter.