Lake Superior Basin Stormwater Management

This project builds on the success of Cook Soil and Water Conservation District's (SWCD) 2012 Clean Water Assistance grant, to provide sub-grants to landowners and community partners in the Lake Superior Basin, to implement rain gardens (or bio-retention basins) to reduce the stormwater footprint on Lake Superior. It is projected that 4 to 5 rain gardens could be completed, providing stormwater treatment to approximately 18 to 30 acres in the Cook County. With the partnership of Cook County, landowners, the City of Grand Marias, and Cook SWCD, these stormwater treatment projects will encourage interested landowners or community groups to apply for funding to implement structural and vegetative practices of rain gardens to reduce stormwater runoff and retain water on the land to reduce the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pollutants. Implementing more rain gardens as stormwater practices in the Lake Superior Basin will work towards protecting the water quality of Lake Superior.