Summer 2022

• Upcoming virtual meeting on Water Quality Fees Rulemaking
• Stormwater Manual wiki reorganization
• Multiple benefits of Green Stormwater Infrastructure
• GreenCorps member application extended
• New offerings for smart salting training

Upcoming virtual meeting on Water Quality Fees Rulemaking

The MPCA is requesting comments on possible amendments to rules governing water quality fees, Minnesota Rules chapter 7002. This includes fees for municipal and industrial wastewater and stormwater permits, construction stormwater permits, feedlot permits and variances. The MPCA may make rule changes to some or all of these fees. 

A virtual informational meeting on this rulemaking will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 16, from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. via Webex. Instructions on how to connect remotely can be found in the Request for Comments, posted on the Water Quality Fees Rulemaking webpage. The notice is also available by visiting the MPCA public notice webpage.

The MPCA published notice in the Aug. 1 State Register. There is no need to RSVP to attend this meeting. The public comment period for this notice closes at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2022.

Stormwater Manual wiki reorganization

Because the Minnesota Stormwater Manual wiki (wiki) allows us to update material on a continuing basis, it has grown steadily over the past 10 years. On June 1 the wiki had about 2200 content pages and another roughly 1500 upload pages (images, documents, spreadsheets, etc.). While this has been good from a content standpoint, it has resulted in poor organization, outdated material, and sometimes conflicting material. Over the next 6-8 months we will be reorganizing the wiki and updating the content. There are three main objectives: Organize the wiki pages into a logical framework. Update individual pages, which includes deletions and consolidation of information. Create a framework for searching and finding information. Information in the wiki will be organized into categories, a tool that can be accessed in the left toolbar (top image). The above image illustrates an example for pages related to Best Management Practices (BMPs). While these three objectives overlap, our main focus initially is on organizing the content. We will use the Category function in the wiki to accomplish this. We have used this tool before, but not in a logical framework. We will create three levels of categories for BMPs as shown above.  We can’t fully explain this process here. Get more detailed information, including a short video, explaining the use of Categories. Eventually, all pages in the wiki, including upload pages, will be placed in one or more Category. Please note this is a work in progress. You will continue to see changes in the wiki over the next several months. If you have questions or suggestions, please contact Mike Trojan.

Multiple benefits of Green Stormwater Infrastructure

MPCA staff have slowly been adding content on Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) to the Minnesota Stormwater Manual, including sections on planning for GSI, operation and maintenance of GSI, and case studies. We’ve recently begun adding content on the multiple benefits of Green Infrastructure (GI). Many stormwater practices can be designed, constructed and maintained to provide multiple benefits besides water quality and quantity. The image on the right illustrates a draft example of benefits provided by a constructed stormwater pond (Note: this table is draft). These benefits can be divided into four categories. Supporting services are basic services needed to support all other ecosystem services. Examples of supporting services are nutrient cycling and soil formation. These services provide basic materials needed by organisms. Provisioning services are products obtained from ecosystems, such as food, minerals, lumber, energy, medicines, and water. It is these services that humans typically rely on for economic purposes and to improve quality of life. Regulating services ensure the continued availability of other ecosystem services. Examples include purification of air and water, waste composition, and climate regulation. Humans often stress these systems. Cultural services are unique to humans. Examples include the use of ecosystems for recreation, scientific development, and education. The multiple benefit concept has been called many things, including multiple stacked benefits, nature-based solutions, shared stacked GI, and so on. Regardless of the name, it all comes down to building sustainable systems. For examples of sustainable stormwater projects, see the following: Rain as a resource: St. Paul innovates shared, sustainable stormwater management (MNPOST, Dec 9, 2016) MWMO Awards $2.6 Million for Restoration at Upper Harbor Terminal (Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, July 20, 2022) Climate Change and Green Infrastructure in Duluth, Minnesota Ford Site Redevelopment

GreenCorps member application extended

Minnesota GreenCorps still has available service opportunities for next program year- check out our nine open positions to serve in a community near you! You'll receive training, an AmeriCorps stipend and education award, health coverage, a professional mentor, and many other benefits while serving with one of our host sites. Opportunities include increasing home energy efficiency, reducing food waste, leading sustainability initiatives, and more. Applications are accepted until Friday, August 19!

Make a difference in your community while developing green job skills! Learn more about the program at https://bit.ly/3KOTYMV and apply online. Please direct questions to mngreencorps.pca@state.mn.us.

New offerings for smart salting training

The MPCA is now offering trainings and workshops to help a wide range of audiences become Smart Salters. Check out our offerings and register today!

Smart Salting for Local Leaders workshop

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is partnering with the We Are Water MN program to offer a new Smart Salting workshop designed for local leaders. Developed and co-presented by a MN GreenCorps member. Participants in this workshop will learn about the impacts of chloride on the environment and infrastructure and discover specific action steps and policy changes that can help reduce salt pollution in their communities. 

Audience: local and state elected officials, members of sustainability and environmental commissions, board members of housing associations, neighborhood associations, or watershed districts, and other local decision makers.

• Register for Monday, August 15  for local leaders workshop. 

MPCA's Smart Salting for Local Leaders is considered an introductory workshop and is not intended as a replacement for other trainings. Hands on winter maintenance professionals will benefit most from participating in the MPCA Smart Salting certification trainings listed below. This workshop does not fulfill MS4 permit requirements.

Smart Salting for Roads certification training

Learn how to integrate science with practical winter maintenance on roads while minimizing impacts on the environment. Covers technical aspects such as application rates, calibration, using weather conditions to more accurately plan and apply, converting to de-icing and anti-icing, storage and more. Individual 5 year certification.

Audience: city, county, or state winter maintenance professionals

• Register for Wednesday, August 24 for roads certification training.

The MS4 General Permit includes requirements for MS4 permittees aimed at reducing chloride pollution. If you are an MS4 permittee, one way to meet the new requirements is to have your winter maintenance staff, or those you contract for winter maintenance, attend an appropriate MPCA Smart Salting Certification training class. 

Smart Salting Refresher: Weather for Winter Maintenance

Participants in MPCA's brand new refresher trainings will learn about the impacts of salt on the environment, the fundamentals of Smart Salting and take a deeper look into specific topic areas like winter weather tools and more. Must have current Smart Salting certification to attend.

• Register for Thursday, September 15  for weather for winter maintenance training.

Smart Salting certification training in Spanish (pilot)

Capacitación de Salazón Inteligente para el Manejo de la Propiedad (Property Management in Español)

This pilot training will help Spanish speaking winter maintenance professionals and property manager learn how they can save money and protect water resources using less salt safely. Individual 5 year certification.

Audience: Spanish speaking winter maintenance staff, supervisors, and property managers

• In-Person - Tuesday, August 30/Martes 30 de agosto - Register HERE
• Villa Del Sol Community Space, St. Paul, MN
• Walk-ins welcome without registration
• Online - Monday, September 19/Lunes 19 de septiembre - Register HERE

Funding provided by Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) and MPCA with Clean Water Funds and the Natural Resources and Environmental Trust Fund.

To see all available trainings, visit the Smart Salting Calendar. 

Questions about the trainings? Email smartsalting.pca@state.mn.us.

Support for the MPCA Smart Salting Program comes from Clean Water Land & Legacy funds.

Newsletter contact

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