Protecting Alexandria’s liquid assets
One city’s positive approach to stormwater management
The federal Clean Water Act requires Minnesota to regulate sources of stormwater, and it does so by issuing a variety of permits. Large cities and smaller ones adjacent to an important lake or river or those on the impaired waters list, must have a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.
Alexandria is one of the smaller cities (pop. 12,456) required to have an MS4 permit because its stormwater discharges into Lake Winona, which is impaired for nutrients. But the city is virtually surrounded by lakes, and city officials here are treating the stormwater management requirements not as a burden, but as an opportunity to protect and enhance their valuable water resources.
Above and beyond
The city implemented the MS4 permit in 2007 as required but then took an additional step by completing a comprehensive stormwater management plan in 2008 that took stock of the city’s liquid assets and how best to protect them. “It was expensive to do but something we had to do if we were going to get it (stormwater management) right,” said Karin Tank, assistant city planner.
The city brought in all local developers to educate them about new requirements for pond sizing, filtration/infiltration, setbacks, buffers, and other best management practices (BMPs) required in various parts of the city. “We wanted builders to understand not only what we wanted them to do, but why they needed to do this,” Tank says, “Not just because we have no choice, but because of what was happening to our waters.”
The plan includes extra protections; for example, the MPCA requires a permit for any construction project that disturbs more than one acre of land. A new city permit reduces that threshold to half an acre.
Tank said the plan helped local lawmakers to pass a stormwater ordinance that helps ensure developers practice what the city preaches. At the same time, the city provided builders with a development guide to help make following the rules as easy as possible.
Taking water to heart
“The theme of our program is ‘water at heart’ because our lakes really are at the heart of what makes Alexandria special,” Tank says. “And we continue to learn along the way… There was a development close to downtown where a holding pond was required and they ended up fencing all the way around it so you can’t see it. It (a stormwater control) can end up just being wasted space.”
“So we learned, let’s not hide these areas,” Tank says. “As much as possible make them part of the landscape. There’s a development where they have patios off each individual office suite with a view of their pond and you would never think, ‘oh, I’m looking at a stormwater pond there.’ It’s one of the amenities.”
For the long run
“I think there’s more awareness now among builders, business owners, and residents about stormwater,” says Peter Sarberg of Widseth Smith Nolting, a local engineering firm that helps Alexandria with its stormwater management program. “People understand the importance of our lake, and these efforts in the long run are only benefiting the value of their property. Builders understand the efforts are not geared toward discouraging development, just doing it in a manner that is going to benefit everyone and the environment for years to come.”