Abstract
The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District (NMCWD) and the City of Edina joined forces to create a groundbreaking stormwater filtration system in Rosland Park designed by Barr Engineering, designed to reduce phosphorus loading into Lake Cornelia in a tight, urban setting. This innovative active BMP includes an anthracite prefilter followed by three different parallel media filters, specifically engineered to remove dissolved phosphorus in a small but powerful system.
What makes this project stand out? It’s the challenge of fitting a high-performance treatment system into a limited urban space while still managing large volumes of stormwater. This could provide game-changing solutions to those struggling to meet water quality goals in growing urban environments.
But the real story lies in the research. Led by Barr Engineering, the team rigorously tested the performance of all three filters, measuring their effectiveness in reducing phosphorus loading to the lake. This research will provide valuable insights into the future of stormwater management in Minnesota, showing the potential to use smaller, more efficient systems that could have a big impact on water quality, targeting removal of nutrients that are unsettleable by traditional means.
Learn about the results of this study followed by a panel discussion that will include the research team and other practitioners that are stepping up to meet the challenge of fitting water quality practices in small, urban footprints.
Andy McCabe is an environmental engineer at Barr Engineering, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He specializes in aquatic chemistry and physical/chemical water treatment. He primarily works in stormwater treatment, mine water treatment, and PFAS water treatment applications. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a BS in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Erica Sniegowski serves as the Administrator for the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, a local unit of government located in the Twin Cities metro area. She has been involved in the water resources field for over fifteen years. As administrator, she oversees district operations, leads the staff team, and manages the annual work plan and strategic direction of the organization. Erica holds a MS in Water Resources Science and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Minnesota. She has a BS in Biology from Iowa State University.
Panelists:
- Kyle Axtell, Watershed Project Manager, South Washington Watershed District (SWWD)
- Nancy Stowe, Projects and Outreach Director, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO)
- Ryan Johnson, Environmental Manager at the City of Roseville