Maintenance

 The City of Woodbury has almost 1,700 structural stormwater best management practices (BMPs) within its borders. These BMPs are integral to the overall stormwater system and are designed to control and treat stormwater runoff. They provide storage and capture pollutants from the runoff to decrease nutrient loading in downstream receiving waters such as lakes, rivers or streams. They serve a very critical role in the overall management of our essential resource, water.

Why are BMP’s Important?

  • Water Quality
  • Flood Control
  • Erosion Control
  • Groundwater Protection
  • Habitat & Aesthetic Value

 

The City created a holistic stormwater BMP maintenance plan, finalized in 2021.

The Goals of the plan were to address:

  1. Compliance with Regulatory standards
    1. As a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permittee, the City must meet requirements as determined by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
  2. Annual inspection program
    1. The city inspects 25% of all stormwater pipes, catch basins and structures each year to inform maintenance and budgetary needs
  3. Maintenance of BMP’s
    1. Including but not limited to vegetation maintenance, pond dredging, addressing inspection findings and responding to complaints
  4. Maintaining a BMP Inventory
    1. New BMP’s are added to the asset management software, inspections and maintenance activities are tracked by each BMP.

The results of the BMP plan:

  1. Inspection and Maintenance Framework
    1. While the City has actively inspected and maintained BMP’s through their existence, the framework includes industry standards and BMP types that are slowly becoming more popular (such as iron enhanced sand filters)
  2. Inspection and Maintenance Guides
    1. Similar to the framework, this process formalized what staff inspects and how the inspections translate to determining maintenance
  3. Cost Estimation Model
    1. While Woodbury continues to grow and add BMP’s, this model is a tool to help inform budgetary decisions