Best Practice Action 19.6
GreenStep City Best Practices: Environmental Management
Surface Water No. 19
Improve local water bodies to sustain their long-term ecological function and community benefits.
Best Practice Action Detail
Best Practice Action 6
Implement an existing TMDL implementation plan.
- Clean Water Partnership loan funds at 0% interest are available on an ongoing basis from the MPCA for city installation of, or reloaning to others for, green infrastructure and other types of projects that are called for in TMDLs, WRAPS, and/or local water plans.
- The cities of Rochester, Woodbury and Lake Crystal have installed innovative water cleansing techniques such as floating biotreatment islands.
- TMDL (total maximum daily load) allocations for pollutants are being established for specific water bodies in the state. Cities that hold an MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) permit will have TMDL attainment written into their permit when it is up for review and renewal.
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Convene on a regular basis all entities that have been assigned waste load allocations (for point and non-point pollution sources) to coordinate action on reducing waste loads. |
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Work with all entities to jointly raise money, fund work and measure progress. |
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Schedule work aimed at completing the TMDL plan within 10 years. |
Who's doing it
Eden Prairie -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2024
Implementation details:
We currently are working with watershed districts to implement several plans. Most notably, Riley Creek is near delisting and has experienced significant increases in water quality. Will definitely be delisted in next 10 years.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Lori Haak (City Staff) | lhaak@edenprairie.org | 9529498327
Partners:
Plymouth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2024
Implementation details:
Plymouth has several TMDLs for the waterbodies throughout the community. We incorporate the strategies outlined in each TMDL and associated watershed restoration and protection strategy (WRAPS) into the Surface Water Management Plan. To complete the goals, we partner with the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission, Shingle Creek Watershed Management Commission, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Hennepin County and State of Minnesota (MPCA/BWSR).
a. Plymouth TMDL Reports: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/tmdl-reports
b. Plymouth Surface Water Management Plan: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/surface-water-management-plan
a. Plymouth TMDL Reports: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/tmdl-reports
b. Plymouth Surface Water Management Plan: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/surface-water-management-plan
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File: view file
Descriptive links: https://www.plymouthmn.gov/departments/public-works/surface-water-resources/tmdl-reports
For more information contact:
Ben Scharenbroich (City Staff) | bscharenbroich@plymouthmn.gov | 763-509-5527
Partners:
Brooklyn Center -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Brooklyn Center has worked with the Shingle Creek & West Mississippi Watershed Management Commision TAC and neighboring communities on the Shingle Creek Chloride TMDL. Improved practices for applying road salt have been made and the TAC just completed a 5-five year review of practices. The City has also worked with the watershed and Twin Lake and Ryan Lake TMDL and a 5-year review has been conducted as well.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://shinglecreek.org/pages/TMDLs/
For more information contact:
Andrew Hogg (City staff) | ahogg@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us | 763-569-3327
Partners: Shingle Creek & West Mississippi Watershed Management Commision TAC
Duluth -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2010
Implementation details:
Miller creek has a TMDL for temperature. As developments are done in the watershed the stormwater engineer works to insure there are BMPs in place to help reduce temperature.
There are 11 draft TMDLs the MPCA is working on and should be finalized in the near future, 7 for Bacteria Impairments and 4 for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Also, the city is part of a team that has been working with the MPAC to insure there is a workable solution to the impairments and finalize the TMDLs.
There are 11 draft TMDLs the MPCA is working on and should be finalized in the near future, 7 for Bacteria Impairments and 4 for Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Also, the city is part of a team that has been working with the MPAC to insure there is a workable solution to the impairments and finalize the TMDLs.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Todd Carlson (City staff) | tcarlson@duluthmn.gov | 218-730-4051
Partners:
Golden Valley -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2014
Implementation details:
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission (BCWMC), of which Golden Valley is a member, has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan for Sweeney Lake. The Main Stem of Bassett Creek was included in the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)’s Upper Mississippi River Bacteria TMDL and Protection Plan which was approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2014 and addresses the impairment due to fecal coliform. TMDL plans are carried out through the BCWMC’s and individual member cities’ Capital Improvement Programs and Surface Water Management Plans.
All members of the BCWMC meet on a monthly basis to make sure TMDL implementation plans are being carried out. Golden Valley residents provide funding for BCWMC projects, including TMDL plans, through taxes collected by Hennepin County.
All members of the BCWMC meet on a monthly basis to make sure TMDL implementation plans are being carried out. Golden Valley residents provide funding for BCWMC projects, including TMDL plans, through taxes collected by Hennepin County.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
In 2014, as a result of the coordinated efforts of the BCWMC, the City of Golden Valley, the City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, and the MPCA to implement a TMDL plan, Wirth Lake was delisted from the Impaired Waters List.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.bassettcreekwmo.org/lakes-streams/main-stem-bassett-creek
For more information contact:
Jeff Oliver (City staff) | joliver@goldenvalleymn.gov | (763)-593-8034
Partners: Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Maplewood -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Maplewood in partnership with the Ramsey Washington Watershed District and other stakeholders have been working to decrease the Nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the Phalen-Casey chain of lakes. The city and their partners have been working on projects to meet these nutrient load reduction goals.
There has also been projects done that help determine the amounts of runoff entering Wakefield Lake and what can be done to prevent this.
Link to Wakefield Lake TMDL study:
http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/10861
There has also been projects done that help determine the amounts of runoff entering Wakefield Lake and what can be done to prevent this.
Link to Wakefield Lake TMDL study:
http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/10861
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Blank Blank (City Staff) | Blank | Blank
Partners:
Richfield -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Minnehaha and Richfield-Bloomington watershed districts have general chloride and phosphorus reductions plans and TMDLs. No bodies of water in Richfield are on the state's impaired waters list.
A small part of Richfield is part of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. The watershed district published a TMDL report in 2010 stating that cities must reduce salt application rates by 62%. The first step was staff training that was provided by the watershed district. From there the City made the following changes to reduce the amount of salt applied to streets:
• Calibration of salters
• Apply salt according to pavement temp
• Using alternative types of salt
A small part of Richfield is part of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. The watershed district published a TMDL report in 2010 stating that cities must reduce salt application rates by 62%. The first step was staff training that was provided by the watershed district. From there the City made the following changes to reduce the amount of salt applied to streets:
• Calibration of salters
• Apply salt according to pavement temp
• Using alternative types of salt
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
After implementing a salt reduction program in 2010, city staff have been able to reduce salt application rates by more than 1/3, going from 1,500-1,600 tons used per season to around 1,000 tons.
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.rbwmo.org/PDF/Comprehensive%20Watershed%20Management%20Plan_Adopted%20March%205%202018.pdf
For more information contact:
Patrick Martin (City staff) | pmartin@richfieldmn.gov | 6128619797
Partners:
Victoria -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City of Victoria has implemented a TMDL plan for four of its lakes. Lake Wasserman, Lake Virginia, Tamarack Lake, and Stieger Lake all have TMLD plans and the City works with the Watershed District to make sure it the TMDLs implementation plans are being applied.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.minnehahacreek.org/project/total-maximum-daily-load-tmdl-studies
For more information contact:
Paul Moretto (City staff) | pmoretto@ci.victoria.mn.us | 952-443-4210
Partners: Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Coon Rapids -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
The City is part of the Coon Creek Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) TMDL and will be implementing a TMDL plan as part of its current MS4 permit update.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Olivia Dorow Hovland (City Staff) | odorowhovland@coonrapidsmn.gov | 763-767-6458
Partners:
Crystal -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Both the Bassett Creek and Shingle Creek Watershed Management organizations, of which Crystal is a member, have TMDL plans.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.shinglecreek.org/
For more information contact:
Mark Ray (City Staff) | mark.ray@crystalmn.gov | 6127606712
Partners: Bassett Creek and Shingle Creek Watersheds
Detroit Lakes -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2021
Implementation details:
Detroit Lakes is in the midst of implementing the St. Clair Lake TMDL. We have a new $35 Million wastewater treatment plant, new MS4 permit that requires benchmarks to meet TMDL.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kelcey Klemm (City Staff) | kklemm@cityofdetroitlakes.com | 2188475658
Partners:
Mankato -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
Mankato pursues a TMDL (total maximum daily load) plan for the lower Minnesota River as part of an overall Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links: http://www.mankato-mn.gov/upload/images/StormWater/3-TMDL_Background.pdf
For more information contact:
Rick Baird (City Staff) | rbaird@mankatomn.gov | 507-387-8543
Partners: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
Robbinsdale -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed: 2020
Implementation details:
Completed and Ongoing. The City operates with several TMDL implementation plans.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
John Tingley (City Staff) | jtingley@ci.robbinsdale.mn.us | 763-531-1253
Partners:
Saint Paul -
Date action report first entered:
Date of last report update:
Year action initially completed:
Implementation details:
The City is working with partners including CRWD, Roseville and Falcon Heights to implement the Como Lake TMDL Implementation plan.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved:
Descriptive File:
Descriptive links:
For more information contact:
Kurt Schultz (City staff) | kurt.schultz@ci.stpaul.mn.us | 651-266-6590
Partners:
Greenstep Advisor
Daniel Petrik, Land Use Specialist, MN Dept. of Natural Resources: 651/259-5697, Daniel.Petrik@state.mn.us