What is stormwater and why is it important?
As rain falls to the ground it becomes known as
storm water. Stormwater that falls on pervious surfaces (grass,
fields, natural areas, etc.) soaks into the ground without running off
into streams and lakes. Stormwater that falls on impervious
surfaces (roofs, driveways, roads, sidewalks, etc.) is not allowed to
soak into the ground and runs off into streams and lakes. This
runoff has negative effects on the river or lake system including:
increased flooding frequency and amount, decreased water clarity,
stress on insects and fish, thermal pollution, depletion of drinking
water supplies, and many others.
Why is this important in River Falls?
The City of River Falls and adjacent townships are
facing growing development pressures from the Minneapolis/St. Paul
Metropolitan area. The Kinnickinnic River and its tributaries
are valuable trout waters of regional significance, representing a
major natural amenity of the community. Uncontrolled stormwater
runoff will result in increased water temperatures that threaten high
quality trout waters; therefore, the protection of the water quality
of the Kinnickinnic River is critical to the environmental and
economic future of the community.
So what can you do to improve the effects of stormwater?
There are simple things we can all do to help
improve storm water quality. It does not take large or costly
projects to make a difference. In fact, small inexpensive
practices can add up to a great deal of improvement. We will
describe five practices that are effective and easy for homeowners to
install. For more information
click here.
What is the City doing?
Beginning
in 1991, the City prepared a Water Management Plan entitled “Water
Management Plan for the Kinnickinnic River and Its’
Tributaries.” The Water Management Plan was completed in
1995. The Water Management Plan was designed to “deliver good
quality storm water runoff to the Kinnickinnic River at acceptable
rates and volumes to reduce pollutant loading and stream bed/stream
bank degradation, and maintain a river temperature suitable to support
a cold water fishery.”
Since that time the City has been following up on
these goals with projects such as the
Lake George Project and the
Raingarden Demonstration Project among others.
Information about stormwater management facilities
is available here.
Information about mosquitoes and West Nile Virus is
available here.
