Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
ABOUT
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District targeted priority locations for stormwater best management practices on lands owned by nonprofits for this project. The District installed six stormwater best management practices at five sites in 2020.
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources funded planning work for the project through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, with a match from the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. An Opportunity Grant from Hennepin County offset capital improvement funds utilized by the District to implement the project.
Project Description
During planning of the project, the purpose was to identify priority locations for best management practices (BMPs) in the watershed on nonprofit sites. These sites typically have significant amounts of hard surfaces. Hard surfaces, also called impervious surfaces, allow large amounts of polluted runoff to flow to local lakes and creeks.
After prioritizing sites, the District had conversations with the site owners to identify partnership opportunities. Working with the together with the partners, the District’s engineering consultant designed stormwater management practices for the sites. The District also offered educational opportunities for the organizations.
Planning Outcomes
The District provided design plans and construction cost estimates to the partner organizations that committed to installing a BMP. The District conducted a study in 2019 regarding the projects and proceeded to include the projects in its capital improvement project schedule.
Nonprofit Project Feasibility Study_March 2019
Partners
The District identified five nonprofits through the prioritization and engagement process. The District worked with these partners to refine BMP design concepts and will move into the installation phase of the project in 2020.
The partners are:
- Chapel Hills United Church of Christ (6512 Vernon Ave S, Edina, MN 55436): Raingarden
- Good Samaritan United Methodist Church (5730 Grove St, Edina, MN 55436): Raingarden
- The Church of St. Edward (9401 Nesbitt Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55437): Two Raingardens
- Oak Grove Presbyterian Church (2200 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431): Raingarden
- St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (1701 W Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington, MN 55431): Raingarden
Implementation
The District installed the six raingardens during the 2020 construction season. The District maintained the raingardens for two years, while training the partner organizations on maintenance. Following the first two years of maintenance, the partner organizations took over raingarden maintenance. Educational signs were also installed at each of the locations.
Clean Water Fund Grant Details and Reporting
Project Name: Targeting Best Management Practices on Lands Owned by Nonprofits
Dates: March 2017-December 2019
Cost and Funding Sources: $83,339 Clean Water Fund Grant; 25% match from the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District
Project Materials
Initial stormwater management concept plans were created as part of the outreach to nonprofits. Examples are provided, along with additional outreach materials developed as part of the grant.
Oak Grove Stormwater Concept Plan
Bethlehem Lutheran Church Stormwater Concept Plan
Chapel Hills Stormwater Concept Plan
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Stormwater Concept Plan
Nine Mile Creek Nonprofit Grant Background Materials
Learn about Clean Water Fund Success Stories from BWSR