Earlier this week, the Minnesota Local Road Research Board released this new video showcasing best practices for local stormwater management. Although it’s primarily a training video for engineers and other public works professionals, non-transportation geeks might also enjoy learning about some of the interesting, innovative techniques being employed in cities and counties across the state.
Those who’d prefer not to watch the whole 14-minute video can skip ahead by clicking on these highlights:
- Woodbury’s stormwater ponds (1:52)
- Washington County’s bioretention gardens (2:56)
- “Green roof” bioretention method (4:02)
- Maplewood’s underground detention system (4:39)
- Greenway stormwater project in Minneapolis (6:03)
- Minnetonka’s hydrodynamic separator treatment system (7:47)
- Arden Hills’ infiltration (swales) system (8:26)
- Shoreview’s permeable pavements (9:52)
- Ramsey-Washington permeable pavement project (11:11)
- Tree boxes/trenches in Ramsey-Washington (12:06)
Overall, the video gives you an appreciation for the incredible amount of planning and work that goes into managing stormwater runoff — a task that’s critical to protecting the state’s waterways from pollution (but which many people no doubt take for granted). For those who want to learn more, the best management practices showcased here are examined in greater detail in a recent LRRB report, “Decision Tree for Stormwater BMPs,” which is available for free on the LRRB and MnDOT Research Sevices websites:
- Full Research Report (PDF, 2.9 MB, 58 pages)
- Technical Summary (PDF, 455 KB, 2 pages)
- PowerPoint Presentation (PDF, 3.5 MB, 37 pages)
Crossroads 