Digging up Our Neighbors’ Dirt

September 2009

by Sea Grant Staff

Neighborhood becomes a test case for reducing stormwater runoff

What can homeowners do to measurably reduce the peak of the stormwater flowing from their properties? Sea Grant is partnering to find out. This summer crews installed and constructed ditches, rain gardens, rain barrels, infiltration trenches, and lawn aeration to determine if these efforts will slow the water flowing into a nearby creek over the next several years. Data will be compared to control neighborhoods where no stormwater protection measures were taken.

The project was funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Partners include the City of Duluth, the University of Minnesota Duluth's Natural Resources Research Institute, and Minnesota Sea Grant.

Newly installed rain garden.

This rain barrel holds 55 gallons of stormwater.

Return to September 2009 Seiche