08/27/2025
Great news from the Prior Lake Prior Lake - Spring Lake Watershed District !
New Water Quality Project Coming to Spring and Prior Lakes
A new water quality project will break ground this fall to help protect two of Scott
County’s most popular lakes. The Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District
(Watershed District) will begin construction on the Swamp Lake Iron-Enhanced Sand
Filter, a system designed to reduce algae and improve water clarity in Spring and Prior
Lakes.
Once operational, the filter is expected to remove about 89 pounds of phosphorus
from the watershed each year. Excess phosphorus is a major contributor to algae
growth, which can cloud the water and reduce enjoyment of the lakes for swimming,
boating, and fishing.
The filter will be located in an agricultural field just downstream of Swamp Lake, a small,
shallow lake that sits at the headwaters of the watershed in Sand Creek Township. As
water from Swamp Lake and some surface water passes through the filter, sand and
iron filings will trap phosphorus and sediment before they can flow through County Ditch
13 and into larger lakes downstream.
“By capturing nutrients before they move downstream, we can improve water quality
throughout the entire system—from Swamp Lake all the way to Lower Prior Lake and
the Minnesota River,” said Emily Dick, the Watershed District’s project manager.
To get this project off the ground, the District worked closely with the Hauer family,
longtime landowners who granted an easement for the filter in the spring of 2024. The
agreement allows the project to move forward while the family continues to own and
manage the surrounding land.
“Been on the land for over 20 years and
sold it to my son and his son,” said Gene
Hauer. “Glad to keep it going and keep it in
the family.”
The Watershed District thanks the Hauer
family for their partnership and looks
forward to completing construction in the
coming months.
This project was
funded in part by the
Clean Water Fund
through the Board of
Water and Soil
Resources.
Minnesota& #39;s Clean
Water Fund works to
protect, enhance, and
restore water quality in
lakes, rivers, and
streams and to protect
groundwater from
degradation.
