In 2015, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board hired Barr to determine the causes for and the amount by which the Hiawatha Golf Course routinely exceeds the groundwater pumping volume specified in its water appropriations permit. Barr monitored groundwater and lake levels, pumping/flow rates, and surface-water and groundwater quality. We also developed and calibrated a regional groundwater model and an XP-SWMM model to determine impacts to groundwater, surface water, and flooding during design storm events and Lake Hiawatha tailwater conditions. In 2017, Barr performed an alternatives assessment of pumping and water management alternatives, along with possible future uses of the golf course. This evaluation will help the park board and City of Minneapolis define the future direction for the golf course and outline the next steps and timeline implementing the selected option. Barr also assisted the park board with public outreach and communications.
In 2018, the park board hired Barr (including a team of subconsultants) to design and guide a master planning process for developing a park management approach that fits within the site’s challenging water resources constraints; complements the regional park; and provides a program that keeps the park experience rich and evolving for visitors. The process includes exploration of two potential tracts—one without golf and one maintaining some variation of traditional golf. Benefits of the selected approach are expected to extend beyond the park boundary and will likely include reducing pumping, alleviating flooding in the adjacent watershed, realigning Minnehaha Creek to its historic configuration, restoring stream ecology and habitat, improving the quality of water discharging into Lake Hiawatha and Minnehaha Creek, and helping the city and park board meet the pollutant-load-reduction requirements established by their NPDES permits.