Watershed Organizations
Anoka County has both watershed districts and watershed management organizations. The following are difference between these two agencies.
Watershed Districts are special purpose units of government with a board of managers appointed by the county board of commissioners. They have taxing and regulatory authority and are primarily responsible to manage water to minimize flood damage. Many watershed districts also work to improve water quality. The level of staffing varies greatly from one district to another.
Watershed Management Organizations (WMO) are composed of member cities and townships within a watershed area that agree to work cooperatively to manage water resources. They formalize this agreement with a contract called a joint powers agreement. The members choose how much authority to grant to the WMO, which are outlined in the agreement. Some WMOs have permitting authority and taxing authority granted to them by their members.
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Geographic Area of interest
| Watershed Organization | Municipality |
| Upper Rum Watershed District | Bethel |
| Oak Grove | |
| St. Francis | |
| E. Bethel (West) | |
| Burns Twp | |
| Sunrise WMO | Linwood Twp |
| E. Bethel (East) | |
| Ham Lake (North) | |
| Columbus Township (North) | |
| Coon Creek Watershed District | Andover (East) |
| Blaine (West) | |
| Columbus Twp (SW) | |
| Ham Lake (South) | |
| Coon Rapids | |
| Lower Rum River WMO | Andover (West) |
| Anoka | |
| Ramsey | |
| Rice Creek Watershed District | Blaine (East) |
| Centerville | |
| Circle Pines | |
| Columbia Hts. (East) | |
| Columbus Twp (SE) | |
| Lexington | |
| Lino Lakes | |
| Spring Lake Park (East) | |
| Six Cities WMO | Blaine (SW) |
| Columbia Hts (West) | |
| Fridley | |
| Spring Lake Park (West) | |
| Vadnais Lake Area WMO | Vadnais Lake Area |
