25 Years of Greenseams®: Building a More Resilient Region

We knew in the early 2000's that the entire watersheds were not considered in these plans due to jurisdictional restrictions. Realizing this limitation, MMSD initiated the Greenseams® Program with the thought that certain upstream lands must be preserved to allow flood water to be slowed down and infiltrated, thereby reducing the flood risk for downstream properties.

Greenseams® is a flood management and land purchasing program targeting properties in the floodplain or properties that exhibit features, like hydric soils, where wetlands once existed. The original goal was to preserve 10,000 acres. In 2001, the planning work was initiated, and, in 2002, the first purchase was made.

Most of the acquisitions are outside MMSD's jurisdictional sewer service area. I commend all MMSD Commissioners over the last 25 years who understood that water flows downhill and does not stop at municipal limits. They realize that we must manage flood water at the watershed scale to make a difference.