Legal Strategy Update

On September 24^th Judge Shelley Gilman granted the Division’s motion to dismiss, therefore the CSC Non-Standard Permit Complaint is dismissed and the Non-Standard Permit is set to become effective on November 1, 2021. The legal strategy workgroup is evaluating options and will coordinate with the Non-Standard Committee and the Permit Compliance Committee on resources related to permit compliance with the issued Non-Standard Permit.

WOTUS Update

On Sept.

Permeable Pavement Monitoring Report - Minneapolis

The goal of this monitoring study is to measure and report the effectiveness of a PaveDrain permeable pavement system installed in a typical Minneapolis alleyway by comparing the stormwater runoff flowing to a trench drain in pre- and post- permeable pavement installation conditions.

$6M sediment cleanup tests new remediation tech

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency have recently signed a $6 million agreement to address and clean up contaminated sediment in the Scanlon Reservoir in Scanlon, Minnesota. Slated to begin this fall, the project will employ new remediation technologies to improve the habitat for fish and wildlife.

2022 State Revolving Fund Eligibility Surveys are now Open

Submittal Deadline is June 30, 2021.

How to Poop Anywhere Outside

There’s an unwritten rule that all campfire conversations eventually lead to a round-robin of bathroom disaster stories.

It’s Time to Talk About Dog Poop

In the United States, pet dogs produce 21.2 billion pounds of poop each year. All that poop is polluting water sources, both in urban areas and the backcountry, largely because dog owners aren’t doing a good enough job picking it up. Let’s look at the reasons why dog poop has become such a problem, and examine what we can do about it.

Why Dog Poop Matters

Two reasons: There’s too much of it and it’s full of bacteria and parasites. 

Leave No Poop Behind (Interview)

Research shows that most dog owners pick up after their pets in the street and at the local park, but often don’t take along a plastic bag when out hiking in the backcountry, assuming it’s no big deal. But Wes Siler, a contributing editor to Outside Magazine, tells host Steve Curwood that all that dog poop does add up to potential harm by introducing foreign bacteria and nutrients to forests, fields, and streams.

Transcript

[SOUNDS OF BARKING AND PLAYING DOGS]

Scientists don't know why one-third of U.S. rivers have turned yellow or green

Satellite images of rivers across the U.S. have revealed a troubling color-changing trend: Over the past three decades, one-third of formerly blue rivers have turned a shade of yellow or green. The discovery comes after an analysis of nearly 235,000 images taken from 1984 to 2018. Amongst the rivers that changed color, 56 percent were mostly yellow and 38 percent were mostly green.

Recycled Plastic Roads Pave the Way to More sustainable Infrastructure

It’s not often you can help solve two of the world’s problems with a single solution. Dutch startup PlasticRoad, however, is doing just that. To tackle both plastic pollution and climate change, the company is producing the next generation of sustainable infrastructure: roads made out of recycled plastic.

Nutrient Education Campaign Fact Sheet

The Education and Outreach Committee generated this document to highlight educational efforts for 2019 and 2020 as well as reference these efforts to specific MS4 Permit requirements.  The goal of this document is to highlight the value of this statewide educational campaign effort. 

Check it out here!!

2019 Educational Campaign Report

Culvert Lining Training

Develops an understanding for how to correctly assess damaged and failing storm system infrastructure as well as provides guidance for inspection and lining projects

Water-Saving Technology You Should Care About

Did you know 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, but only 1% of that is available for humans to use?

The pace of our global society is moving too fast for water to fulfill its potential as a renewable resource. We have made fresh water into a finite resource. Water resources, like groundwater, are being depleted because they aren’t able to recharge at the same rate of our growing population and increased agricultural activity. Basically, we consume water at a highly unsustainable and concerning rate.

Water Saving Tips

Making simple changes to your water use behavior can save lots of water. If we all reduced the amount of water we use by even a small amount, we could make a huge difference to our total consumption. Here are just a few practical tips to help you save water in and around your home.

Only Wash with a Full Load

Use your washing machine only when you have a full load. Reducing your washing by just one load a week will save around 32 gallons of water.

Replace Your Toilet

EPA awards Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment grant funding to prevent pollution

Denver, CO (September 23, 2020) – Today, during Pollution Prevention (P2) Week, the U.S.