• Proposed bonding bills to help cities with climate resilience
• Stormwater pond maintenance: Revised Soil Reference Values (SRVs) for contaminate sediment disposal
• Draft MS4 permit update
• Stormwater Institute requests MS4s to take survey on challenges
• Water fee updates
• Lawns to Legumes grants available for pollinator habitat

Proposed bonding bills to help cities with climate resilience

The MPCA is seeking to develop a pilot grant program to fund climate resilient stormwater infrastructure in Minnesota communities. Minnesota continues to experience record breaking precipitation. Excess precipitation can lead to increased incidences of community flooding as a result of aging and undersized storm sewers. The existing funding options to address these issues are limited. In a survey taken by 260 public and private sector stormwater professionals, 98% were interested in doing a stormwater infrastructure project to increase climate resilience. With supportive feedback from Minnesotans, the program was included in the PCA’s capital budget request. In January, Governor Walz recommended $15 million for the program. This year’s legislative session is unusual, and funding is not guaranteed. If the bonding bill is passed, the program could be open to applicants as soon as fall 2020. Grants would fund projects to increase the storage, infiltration, and conveyance capacity of stormwater systems, as well as increasing the durability of stormwater systems. Pending approval of the bill, municipalities and public entities in partnership with municipalities would be encouraged to apply.

For more information about the bonding proposal, see page 15 of capital Budget Requests.

If there are updates, they will be posted to MMB’s Current Capital Budget page.

Stormwater pond maintenance: Revised Soil Reference Values (SRVs) for contaminate sediment disposal

High concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have accumulated in some stormwater pond sediments around the state. Coal tar-based sealants were commonly applied to asphalt driveways, parking lots, and some recreational trails to protect the underlying asphalt. These sealants contain high concentrations of PAHs, which can be carcinogenic.

PAHs in coal tar-based sealants are released into the environment as they break down over time and can be transported via stormwater runoff. This is a concern for local governments responsible for managing stormwater ponds and disposing of sediments that have been excavated from them.

Revised benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) soil reference values (SRVs) protective of human health have been revised for commercial and industrial use on any site in Minnesota and replace the existing SRVs. Municipalities may be able to find more cost effective disposal options for excavated sediment from stormwater ponds. The revised SRV’s including the revised spreadsheet for calculating B[a]P equivalents and more information on coal tar-based sealants can be found here:

https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/coal-tar-based-sealants

Draft MS4 permit update

The MPCA is about 80% through drafting written responses to the public comments received on the draft MS4 general permit (MNR040000), which was on public notice from November 12, 2019 through January 11, 2020. If you submitted public comments, the MPCA may contact you or your organization for further discussion in the near future. At this time, the MPCA anticipates the MS4 general permit will be reissued in June 2020.

Stormwater Institute requests MS4s to take survey on challenges

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) Stormwater Institute (SWI) needs your help getting the word out to municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permittees. This survey is intended to identify the information and resources MS4 permittees need to run an effective and efficient MS4 stormwater program. This biennial survey seeks to understand and quantify the challenges the MS4 community faces, so resource solutions can be directed to fill these gaps. WEF’s Stormwater Institute will use the survey results to prioritize future research that will benefit stormwater programs. The MS4 survey is conducted once every two years. The inaugural survey was conducted in May 2018.

The survey should be completed by the NPDES MS4 program manager at the MS4. We request that only MS4 NPDES permit holders, or their representative, complete the survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WDQB28Y

Water fee updates

The MPCA is proposing increases to water permit fees for programs that regulate waste water, stormwater, septic systems and feedlots. Learn more about the proposal and find updates here: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/amendments-water-quality-fee-rules.

Lawns to Legumes grants available for pollinator habitat

The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is partnering with Blue Thumb to provide cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. Native plants not only support bees and other pollinators, their deep roots are also known for soaking up rainwater and reducing stormwater runoff. Funding will be targeted to priority areas of the state.

Two types of grants are available:

Individual Support Grants: Lawns to Legumes offers a combination of workshops, coaching, planting guides and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential lawns. Minnesota residents can apply to be reimbursed for up to $350 in costs associated with establishing pollinator habitat in their yards. Applications for the first application period for spring 2020 projects were accepted through February 28, 2020 and yielded more than 5,000 applications. Funding decisions and all notifications will be emailed in March for spring 2020 installations.

A second application period geared toward fall 2020 projects opened March 9 and will remain open through June 2. Those who applied for spring project funding but did not receive funding will be automatically considered for the second application period. Fall can be an ideal time to install pollinator seed mixes, since many flowers seeded to establish pollinator meadows need freezing and thawing conditions over winter to break their seed coat and prepare for spring germination. Fall is also a great time to plant containerized trees and shrubs that offer benefits to pollinators as long as they are watered going into winter.

Eligible expenses for individual support grants.

How to apply: Apply online at Blue Thumb’s website

Demonstration Neighborhood Grants: Demonstration neighborhoods are community projects intended to enhance pollinator habitat in key corridors, raise awareness for residential pollinator protection, and showcase best practices. Organizations overseeing a demonstration neighborhood will work with local residents to install four types of beneficial planting practices: native pocket plantings, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, pollinators lawns and pollinator meadows. Local governments, nonprofit organizations, and tribal governments were invited to apply through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process this winter.   

Newsletter contact

If you have questions about or suggestions for this newsletter, contact Roberta Getman, MPCA-Rochester, 507-206-2629.