Best Practice Action 17.1
GreenStep City Best Practices Environmental Management
Stormwater Management No. 17
Minimize the volume of and pollutants in rainwater runoff by maximizing green infrastructure.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 1
Adopt and use Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS).
- Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) represents the next generation of stormwater management, developed by the MN Pollution Control Agency along with its scientific, municipal and business partners. MIDS contains three main elements: (1) higher clean water performance goals for new development and redevelopment, focused on infiltrating rainwater; (2) a Community Assistance Package including sample ordinances that will allow for increased flexibility and a state-approved streamlined approach to regulatory programs (TMDLs, impaired waters) for developers and communities; and (3) the MIDS Calculator that will standardize the use of a range of innovative structural and nonstructural stormwater techniques.
- Those interested in adopting MIDS may want to read about the 2016 experience of 8 cities along the St. Croix river, and view the MIDS sample ordiance language.
- The Minnesota Stormwater Manual is in a web-based format that can be rapidly updated by MPCA staff to incorporate the latest information on topics such as best management practices, design, construction, maintenance and pollutant removal. For example, a 2016 page was created on guidance for pollinator-friendly vegetated stormwater practices.
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Use the MIDS calculator for new development and redevelopment site design. |
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Work with MPCA or other stormwater staff to train city staff and to introduce MIDS to the city council. |
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Adopt and implement the MIDS community assistance package. |
Who's doing it
Crosslake -
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Implementation details:
Sec. 26-4 Authority and Incorporation by Reference of Statutes, Rules, and References of the Land Ordinance (Chapter 26) revised 10-16-18 includes inclusion of the Crow Wing County Local Comprehensive Water Management Plan and the “Minnesota Stormwater Manual”, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (2005).
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For more information contact:
Martha Steele (Community volunteer) | steeles@brainerd.net | 218-765-4041
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Crystal -
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Implementation details:
Crystal is a part of the Bassett Creek Watershed District which has adopted the MIDS.
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For more information contact:
Anne Norris (City staff) | Anne.Norris@crystalmn.gov | 763-531-1140
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Elk River -
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Implementation details:
The City of Elk River adopted Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards into city ordinance on March 16, 2015.
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Descriptive links: http://www.elkrivermn.gov/1185/Stormwater-Program
For more information contact:
Amanda Bednar (City staff) | ABednar@ElkRiverMN.gov | 763-635-1068
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Golden Valley -
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Implementation details:
The vast majority of Golden Valley is located in the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission which adopted the MIDS community assistance package into its Watershed Management Plan in 2015. The Golden Valley City Council adopted Minnesota’s Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) into its City code in 2015 as well. In accordance with the Watershed Management Plan, the City’s stormwater management ordinance requires improvements and development proposals to incorporate MIDS. Engineering staff have attended training on using the MIDS calculator.
Outcome measures/metrics:
All developments and public projects that trigger MIDS have been required to follow the new guidelines since the City code was updated. This has resulted in a reduction in the amount of stormwater volume, sediment and phosphorus entering natural receiving waters within the City.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: https://library.municode.com/mn/golden_valley/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIILADE_CH107STMA
For more information contact:
Jeff Oliver (City staff) | joliver@goldenvalleymn.gov | (763)-593-8034
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New Hope -
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Implementation details:
The city is part of the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, which has adopted many of Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards.
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Descriptive links: http://www.bassettcreekwmo.org/
For more information contact:
Jeff Alger (City staff) | jalger@ci.new-hope.mn.us | 763-531-5119
Partners: Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission
Inver Grove Heights -
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Implementation details:
The City code states that Low Impact Development (LID), or green infrastructure, design concepts will be incorporated into development projects located in the northwest area and in other landlocked basins in the city. In all other parts of the city, LID design concepts must be implemented wherever possible.
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For more information contact:
Ally Hillstrom (City staff) | ahillstrom@invergroveheights.org | 651-604-8511
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Moorhead -
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The City accepts MIDS to meet city ordinance requirements, but we have not adopted their practices.
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For more information contact:
Dan Mahli (City staff) | dan.mahli@cityofmoorhead.com | 218-299-5314
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Rogers -
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Implementation details:
The City's Water Resource Technician attended a MIDS calculator training, led by John Chapman. We are now in the process of determining how we can use the calculator and how else we can incorporate MIDS. This spring the City is hoping to kick off a rain barrel program along with some public outreach and education revolving around permeable/pervious pavement/pavers.
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For more information contact:
Mike Bauer (City staff) | mbauer@ci.rogers.mn.us | 763-428-1033
Partners: MPCA; University of Minnesota
Saint Paul -
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Implementation details:
Adopting and using Minnesota's Minimal Impact Design Standards is under consideration for the City's 2015 ordinance review.
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For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Roberta Getman, Municipal Stormwater Specialist, MN Pollution Control Agency: 507/206-2629, roberta.getman@state.mn.us, www.pca.state.mn.us/water/enhancing-stormwater-management-minnesota