Stormwater Management
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is water that comes from rain or melting snow that eventually runs off to a water body, soaks into the ground or evaporates.
Why manage stormwater?
Stormwater runoff can have significant impacts on our environment, including flooding and soil erosion. When not absorbed into the ground, it can also flush sediment, trash, debris and other pollutants into our local lakes and streams, which can be harmful to wildlife and the overall health of our water resources.
The purpose of stormwater management is to:
- Reduce the rate of stormwater runoff
- Reduce the overall volume of runoff
- Provide areas where stormwater can be retained (i.e., retention ponds)
Stormwater management plans
The city has established the following plans to help manage stormwater:
How you can help
The city participates in and has created a number of programs for residents to support the city's stormwater management efforts.
Adopt-a-Storm-Drain program
Help us protect our lakes, streams and wetlands by adopting a storm drain and keeping it clear of leaves, trash and other debris. The simple act of sweeping up around a storm drain helps protect local lakes and rivers by preventing pollution from entering our shared waterways.
To adopt a storm drain, visit Adopt a Drain website. Simply create an account with your name and address to claim your storm drain. Once you've signed up, Adopt-a-Storm-Drain will send you tips on how to clean up safely.
Follow How to clear a storm drain tips, safety and equipment information when selecting and clearing a storm drain.
With more than 300,000 storm drains in the metro area, everyone's help is important in making an impact! Learn more on Clean Water Minnesota's website.
Rainwater Rewards program
St. Louis Park's Rainwater Rewards program offers financial and technical assistance to residents that implement stormwater management projects on their property.
Reduce water pollution by managing yard waste
- Mulch lawn clippings instead of throwing them in the trash or allowing them to collect at the gutter.
- Utilize the City of St. Louis Park's yard waste program.
- The city offers yard waste collection during the residential yard waste season at no additional cost (it is included in your solid waste collection rate). Yard waste includes garden waste, grass clippings, leaves, weeds, wood chips, twigs and branches.
- Visit the yard waste page to learn more.
CAMP lake monitoring
The City of St. Louis Park participates in a Metropolitan Council-sponsored lake monitoring program called Citizen Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). City volunteers monitor the water quality in five bodies of water in St. Louis Park. The city depends on volunteers to collect the data for the CAMP program and encourages residents to participate in this fun and important task.
Resources
Regulations
To help protect these waterbodies, state and federal rules and regulations have been established to help manage stormwater.
Learn more about stormwater regulations.