In 2002 the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District approached Glensheen about doing a storm water demonstration project on its property. Their goal was to construct several different Low Impact Development practices in a location that would be accessible to the general public. Two projects were initiated were initiated under the direction of the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District and the MN Board of Water and Soil and funded with matching grants from the Great Lakes Commission.
The first project was completed in 2004. This project replaced eroded gullies caused by parking lot runoff with engineered grassy swales, checks dams, and rock chutes. It also created a bioretention area to filter pollutants from a portion of the water off the parking lot. The second project is near completion. This project installed 140 linear feet of armor stone at the base of a 10' +/- clay shoreline bank, as well as reduced the slope of the bank. Geosynthetic turf reinforcement, topsoil, and native seed were installed above the armor stone. Additional native shrubs will be added to the disturbed bank in the spring of 2006.
It is estimated that these projects will reduce over 70 tons of soil erosion annually and help protect spawning habitat along the shores of Lake Superior.
Both projects were designed by the Carlton, Cook, Lake, North and South St. Louis Joint Powers Board of Soil and Water Conservation Districts (CCLNS Joint Powers Board).
Additional Information
Construction Pictures
News Releases
These
projects have received notice that they will be awarded a Governor's Minnesota
Government Reaching Environmental Achievements Together (MnGREAT) Award for
superior environmental achievement by Minnesota's public agencies. The
Governor's MnGREAT Awards recognize organizations that focus on preserving
and enhancing our environment through innovative pollution and waste prevention,
resource efficiency, and sustainable practices. This award represents the highest
level of environmental achievement within the state of Minnesota.
To evaluate nominees, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) Interagency
Pollution Prevention Advisory Team (IPPAT) selected a panel of judges from industry,
government, and environmental organizations. The judges evaluated each project
on the basis of its environmental and economic benefits, the extent to which
it represents an innovative approach, the level of commitment and leadership
in preventing waste and pollution, and how well the program lends itself to replication
by others.
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