Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Technical contact: Keith Cherryholmes, (651) 296-6945 Media contact: Barbara Skoglund, (651) 296-6706 Toll-free: (800) 657-3864 EDITOR'S NOTE: Partnership programs are located in the following counties: Carver, Cook, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, South St. Louis and Stearns. St. Paul, Minn. -- The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has established construction stormwater partnerships in 10 growing counties that are home to some of Minnesota's most valuable or most polluted waters. The local partners are assisting the MPCA in performing construction stormwater management and compliance tasks. "This partnership program will uncover pollution sources and respond in ways the agency has been unable to do alone," said Ken Moon, MPCA stormwater enforcement coordinator. Partners include Carver County Planning and Zoning department and Soil and Water Conservation District, Cook County Planning and Environmental Services department, Crow Wing County SWCD, Dakota County SWCD, Douglas County Land and Resource Management department, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, Ramsey County SWCD, Rice County SWCD, Stearns County Environmental Services department, and South St. Louis County SWCD. The 10 partners will receive a total of $472,920 the first year and $432,240 the second year of the program. "The partnership program is setting the stage for effective implementation of clean water goals at the local level," said Jay Riggs, Dakota County SWCD urban conservationist. Partners will participate in a wide variety of tasks including identifying sites that need construction stormwater permits and checking to ensure they have one, as well as inspecting construction sites for compliance with regulations. Participating organizations will also provide proactive technical assistance to the construction industry and develop local stormwater ordinances. Construction sites rank among the most significant sources of sediment affecting our waterways. Excessive sediment creates stresses on the ecosystem including lowering oxygen levels, reducing water clarity (which in turn reduces both the ability of fish to feed and of predators to feed on fish), abrading fish gills and other environmental impacts. Because land covered by impervious surfaces like roads, buildings and parking lots increases the quantity of stormwater runoff and pollutant levels in nearby water bodies, the partnership program was limited to applicants from growing communities near valuable or polluted water resources. Local governmental units, including SWCDs, watershed organizations, water management organizations, townships, cities and counties were invited to apply for the partnership program. Applicants had to meet growth and water resource eligibility criteria. A selection committee narrowed the applicant pool, conducted interviews and selected the 10 partners. Visit/water/stormwater/stormwater-c.html for more information about construction stormwater regulations.