Fredrick-Miller Spring horizontal detail

Natural Springs

Protecting Fredrick-Miller Spring and Riley Creek

Property owners within the Fredrick-Miller Spring’s recharge area are encouraged to employ Best Management Practices that can promote or improve the quality of the water that reaches Frederick-Miller Spring and Riley Creek.

**Fredrick-Miller Spring Recharge Area**

Best Practices

Limit or eliminate the use of fertilizers and pesticides on lawns and gardens.
Store and dispose of hazardous household waste properly.
Collect and dispose of yard waste properly.
- Do not pile yard waste on slopes or vegetated areas, this can lead to a
  sparse undergrowth and increased erosion.
- Take excess tree and plant waste to the City’s Yard Waste Site or contract with your trash hauler.
Collect and dispose of pet waste in the trash.
Reduce amount of salt used for deicing and collect undissolved salt for reuse.
Plant native and pollinator-friendly flowers and grasses which can treat water runoff.
Keep storm drains clear of debris to prevent blocking the flow of stormwater which can pollute waterways.

Facts About Fredrick-Miller Spring

Fredrick-Miller Natural Spring with cyclist filling water bottle

The natural spring is located on City property (9995 Spring Road) and has been in continuous use since 1890.
The City of Eden Prairie acquired the property in 1969 and made improvements in 1972 and 2003.
In 1997, the City designated the spring as a local Heritage Preservation Site which includes protections written in City Code, ensuring the natural spring is protected for many future generations to enjoy.
The site includes an access turnout for vehicles and a trough for year-round use.
The source of the spring is located west of Spring Road and is routed to the access site on the east side through an underground pipe.

The earliest recorded mentions of springs and seeps around what is now Eden Prairie come from mid-19th century government surveys, and the diaries and memoirs of the area's first Euro-American settlers.

Based on these sources, it is known that springs and seeps occurred in relative abundance in the Minnesota River valley areas, and these sources of clean water were highly sought after.

Fredrick-Miller Spring

9995 Spring Road

William Fredrick moved the spring access to its current location and built a wooden tank to contain the spring's waterflow in 1880. Arthur Miller acquired the spring in 1968 and donated it to the City of Eden Prairie in 1969. The City made improvements to the site in 1972 and in 2003. Little else disturbs the spring site and today it appears much like it did in the late 1800s.

The source of Fredrick-Miller Spring is located west of Spring Road and is routed to an access site on the east side of Spring Road through an underground pipe. The access site is one-quarter mile north of Flying Cloud Drive and includes a turnout for automobiles and a trough for year-round use.

Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area Spring

18700 Flying Cloud Drive

A natural spring is located in the parking lot of the Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area, located in the southwest part of Eden Prairie off Flying Cloud Drive. The underground spring is piped to the surface to allow users to fill up water jugs with the spring water.

Spring Water Testing

The City performs a coliform bacteria test monthly on both natural springs. The test is pass/fail, so the results are only posted if a sample fails, and written notification is posted at the natural spring until there is a passing result.