The MPCA is soliciting project proposals to distribute $35 million to communities for projects to prepare local stormwater infrastructure for the impacts of climate change. These projects are specifically meant to address water quantity and prevent localized flooding.

As Minnesota’s climate continues to warm, extreme storms have pushed aging and undersized stormwater systems in communities across the state to the breaking point. Over the last 20 years, Minnesota has experienced 10 “mega-rain” events, when at least six inches of rain falls over an area of at least 1,000 square miles. Today more than 155,000 homes and apartment buildings, 29,000 miles of roads, and 13,000 commercial buildings in Minnesota are at risk of severe flooding.

Applications are due before 4 p.m. on April 11, 2024.

For more information, visit:  Implementation grants for stormwater resilience

MPCA employees cannot legally answer questions about this grant opportunity. Please submit questions about this grant to grants.pca@state.mn.us with the subject line “FY 24 Stormwater Grants” no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024.

Last summer, the MPCA reissued the Construction Stormwater (CSW) permit. According to item 19.4 of the 2020 MS4 general permit, MS4 permittees have until July 31, 2024, to update/revise, if necessary, their existing MCM 4 regulatory mechanism. The permittee’s MCM 4 regulatory mechanism must be at least as stringent as the requirements for erosion, sediment, and waste controls as written in the August 1, 2023, CSW permit. To assist in this process, the MPCA has updated the MCM 4 and MCM 5 model ordinance guidance document to reflect the August 1, 2023, CSW permit requirements.

The guidance document discusses the different ways that a MS4 can update their regulatory mechanism. The model ordinance covers options such as incorporating the most current version of the CSW permit by reference, incorporating only the erosion, sediment, and waste control requirements by reference, or incorporating the requirements directly into your regulatory mechanism. The model ordinance can be found under the MCM 4 and MCM 5 sections. 

Questions? Reach out to any of the technical assistance and compliance enforcement staff. 

Conducting audits of Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permittees is one way that the MPCA helps keep our Minnesota rivers and lakes clean and safe. Audits are also required under our agreement with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In 2023, we found a lot of non-compliance in MCM 3 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (5 of the top 10 items) and well as non-compliance on training and documentation items (6 of the top 10 items). Top non-compliance items included:

1) 18.16 For each training in item 18.8 and 18.9, the permittee must document: a. general subject matter covered; b. names and departments of individuals in attendance; and c. date of each event.

2) 19.14 For each training in item 19.11, the permittee must document: a. general subject matter covered; b. names and departments of individuals in attendance; and c. date of each event.

3) 21.13 The permittee must document the following information associated with the operations and maintenance program: a. date(s) and description of findings, including whether or not an illicit discharge is detected, for all inspections conducted; b. any adjustments to inspection frequency as authorized in item 21.9; c. date(s) and a description of maintenance conducted as a result of inspection findings; d. schedule(s) for maintenance of structural stormwater BMPs and outfalls; and e. stormwater management training events, including general subject matter covered, names and departments of individuals in attendance, and date of each event.

4) 18.8 At least once each calendar year, the permittee must train all field staff in illicit discharge recognition and reporting. Field staff includes, but is not limited to, police, fire department, public works, and parks staff.

5) 20.21 For each training in item 20.18, the permittee must document: a. general subject matter covered; b. names and departments of individuals in attendance; and c. date of each event.

6) 21.12 The permittee must implement a stormwater management training program commensurate with individual's responsibilities as they relate to the permittee's SWPPP, including reporting and assessment activities. 

To stay compliant with these items:

• Review the MCM 3 and training items in your MS4 permit.
• Make sure you are compliant with the permit.
• Schedule trainings on department calendars for the whole year.
• Document all training events.
• Many permittees failed to document the names and departments of training participants. Keep in mind that "field staff" (Item 18.8) includes police, fire department, public works, and parks staff.

If you have questions about items on your MS4 Permit, talk with your MS4 staff contact. 

Water reuse is the reclamation of rainwater, stormwater, or wastewater for secondary uses such as irrigation, toilet flushing, and car washing. Driven by water scarcity and environmental issues, water reuse is a well-established practice in drier parts of the United States. Reuse is also gaining interest in Minnesota: a 2021 MPCA reuse survey shows that 53 rainwater and stormwater reuse projects are already in use in Minnesota, mostly within the metro area. Unlike other states, Minnesota lacks a comprehensive framework to guide the development of reuse while ensuring public health.

The Minnesota Legislature directed the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to “prepare a comprehensive study of and recommendations for regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to water reuse for use in the development of state policy for water reuse in Minnesota”. MDH convened workshops and released the 2018 Advancing Safe and Sustainable Water Reuse in Minnesota.

In 2022, following recommendations in that report, MDH released Reuse of Stormwater and Rainwater in Minnesota – a public health perspective, which focused on risk assessment.

Since late 2023, MDH and their project consultant EOR has convened MPCA, Capitol Region Watershed District, and local jurisdictions with existing reuse systems for a collaborative process to assess risk, responsibility, and to determine what practices are necessary to protect public health. Ideally, guidance will be available after this process is complete.

The Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series provides an opportunity to learn about the most recent research, discoveries, and case studies around urban stormwater management specifically for an audience of stormwater practitioners, professionals, and researchers. Seminars include a presentation, panel discussion, and Q&A with participants. You can watch the seminars in-person or via Zoom. You can view past seminars online on the Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series page.

April 18: Plants and vegetation in stormwater practices - John Bly
May 16: Urban Long Term Ecological Restoration (LTER) Project - Sarah Hobbie

Past Presentations to watch online:
January 18: Capturing and quantifying coarse organic matter in urban stormwater - John Chapman, Univ. of MN
February 22: Performance of Stormwater Products and Practices: Why it Matters - Seth Brown, NMSA
March 14: Rethinking Green Stormwater Infrastructure in Place - Ashlynn Stillwell, Univ. of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

For more information, click here.