Pioneer Press Reports on Stormwater Pollution

This is the story in the Pioneer Press.  aging-stormwater-retention-ponds-trouble-suburbs1

 

Here is basic information on stormwater ponds.

The whole purpose of stormwater ponds is to collect sediment.  The outflowing water is a little bit cleaner but not enough to stop the downstream areas from feeling the effects of dissolved toxic materials, oils, and nutrients.  Stormwater ponds come in two forms.  They are either completely man made by digging a hole in the ground, or they are the result of polluting an existing aquatic resource.  Lily Lake is like all other stormwater ponds in the City of White Bear Lake, a polluted aquatic resource.  These resources had clean water and a diverse and healthy ecosystem before pollution was piped into them.  They are in places where natural groundwater and surface flowages are present.  Removing stormwater pollution will not cause these resources to dry up.  On the contrary, the naturally clean water will once again be prominent and not overshadowed by the polluted water.

White Bear Press Reports on Area’s Polluted Water Bodies

The July 16, 2008 edition highlights the first to be listed of many polluted lakes and streams in the White Bear area. 

http://www.press-publications.com/articles/2008/07/22/white_bear_press/news/doc4874c64a1f99e476851352.txt

TOP TEN List for Stormwater Reduction

The following comes from the report http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution/gutter/gutter.pdf

TOP TEN WAYS TO PUT LID TO WORK

LID is easy, INEXPENSIVE, and can be applied to city streets AND  the household level to reduce

runoff, through:

1. Rain Gardens and Bioretention

2. Rooftop Gardens or Simple Roof Storage

3. Tree Preservation and Planting

4. Vegetated Swales, Buffers, and Strips

5. Roof Leader Disconnection

6. Rain Barrels and Cisterns

7. Impervious Surface Reduction and Disconnection

8. Soil Amendments

9. Permeable Pavers

10. Pollution Prevention and Good Housekeeping

MPCA provides contaminant testing report upon request

   Varney Lake and Lily Lake tested in 2007  The report says more extensive testing needed before preparing sediment disposal permits.  The findings imply significant long-term cost implications everytime the city has to clean out neighborhood ponds used for disposing of stormwater and the associated sediment from streets and driveways.

Where does your street pollution go?

street_pollution_receiving_waters.pdf

By clicking on this file you will be able to view the natural lakes, ponds, and wetlands receiving street pollution in the City of White Bear Lake, Minnesota.  All of the white arrows pointing into lakes represent the pipes in and sometimes out. This is from the most recent City of White Bear Lake storm sewer map. Your comments are welcome for consideration in posting on the blog.