To help Minnesota communities better prepare for extreme weather events and climate change, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Commissioner Katrina Kessler, city officials, and state lawmakers today highlighted the Walz-Flanagan Administration's $21.1 million request for new investments in stormwater infrastructure, included in the Governor and Lieutenant Governor’s Budget to Move Minnesota Forward.
As Minnesota’s climate continues to warm, extreme wet weather events have pushed aging and undersized stormwater systems in cities across the state to the breaking point. Since 1950, the City of St. Louis Park has experienced a 53 percent increase in extreme weather events, including mega-rains. Mega-rain events, like the one in St. Louis Park. Golden Valley, Hopkins, and Edina in 2019 are four times more likely than they were a generation ago.
According to First Street Foundation, a national flood risk assessment organization, more than 155,000 homes and apartment buildings, 29,473 miles of roads, and 13,680 commercial buildings in Minnesota are currently at risk of severe flooding.
“If Minnesota cities are not prepared for climate change, our residents and businesses will continue to bear the brunt of these devastating weather events,” said MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler. “That is why Governor Walz and the MPCA are asking the Legislature to invest $21 million toward critical stormwater system improvements in cities across Minnesota.”
The Local Government Stormwater Construction Grant program would fill an existing funding gap in stormwater infrastructure rehabilitation proposals. Projects funded by this program would range from new or enhanced stormwater management systems that will increase storage capacity by establishing rain gardens, tree trenches, and other natural water management tools.
“The impacts of climate change are many, and we’ve certainly seen their effects here in St. Louis Park with more severe storms and resulting flooding issues,” said St. Louis Park Mayor Jake Spano. “Earlier this month, the City of St. Louis Park declared a climate emergency in an effort to encourage state and federal leaders to provide funding and pass policies communities need to combat climate change. This proposed grant program for stormwater infrastructure upgrades will help us as we continue our city’s longstanding commitment to climate action.”
Data from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) shows that for every $1 invested in resilient infrastructure, $6 in community benefit are accrued from avoided loss due to extreme precipitation, flooding and other disasters. The Local Government Stormwater Construction Grant program would be a crucial investment to help Minnesota communities protect local property and adapt to the challenges brought by these extreme weather patterns.