Stormwater Retrofit Partnership in Dakota County
Through the Stormwater Retrofit Partnership, the Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District (DSWCD) provides the funding and technical assistance to prioritize and install Best Management Practices (BMPs) at existing public facilities. This project is needed because, like other urban properties that developed before stormwater regulations, most government owned facilities were designed and constructed without optimal water quality features. Left as they are, the existing roofs, parking lots, and other hard surfaces at sites like city halls, libraries, fire stations, and schools will continue to contribute polluted runoff to our lakes, streams and wetlands. This project uses mapping technology and pollutant load analyses to select and install innovative stormwater practices that have the most benefit, for the least cost, in priority locations. The locations are identified in local water plans, Total Maximum Daily Load studies or local capital improvement plans. In 2010, four local government partners completed stormwater retrofit practices at five sites that treat stormwater runoff from a total of 13.6 acres of hard surfaces. Combined, these sites are designed to capture approximately 4,500 lbs of sediment, 8 lbs of phosphorus and reduce runoff volume by three million gallons (9 acre-ft) annually.The Partnership gets conservation on the ground because Clean Water Funds leverage and supplement resources that local governments can bring to projects. Partners can also contribute by providing the available land space needed for the BMP, permits, construction administration (contractor, materials, and equipment) and future maintenance costs. This project uses the DSWCD's existing cost share policies and technical assistance for everything from site inventories to design, construction oversight, and field verification to ensure quality control from beginning to end.
Nicole Clapp
(c) $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 the second year are for nonpoint source pollution reduction and restoration grants to watershed districts, watershed management organizations, counties, and soil and water conservation districts for grants in addition to grants available under paragraphs (a) and (b) to keep water on the land and to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams, and to protect groundwater and drinking water. The projects must be of long-lasting public benefit, include a local match, and be consistent with TMDL implementation plans or local water management plans. Up to five percent may be used for administering the grants (2010 - Clean Water Assistance)
This project resulted in five local government partners installing 16 stormwater retrofit practices at six sites. Combined, these sites capture approximately 5,725 pounds of sediment, 10 pounds of phosphorus and reduce runoff volume by almost four million gallons annually.