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Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability

Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability

Equity & Justice

America’s water systems, and the communities that depend on them, are already feeling the strain that climate change has placed on existing water infrastructure. Low-income populations and communities of color have historically suffered from poor infrastructure and often live in areas with aging and outdated water systems that violate health-based standards established in the Safe Drinking Water Act. As a result, these populations experience higher rates of contaminated water, wastewater overflows, housing damage from floods, and increased risks of flooding.

In a 2018 report, the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council provided the US EPA with recommendations to assist communities with environmental justice concerns in developing technical, financial and managerial capacity within their water systems; and to address funding needs for infrastructure planning, design and construction.

Project Summary

The National Climate Assessment shows the Midwestern United States has already experienced large changes in very heavy precipitation and projects such changes to continue and worsen. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, responsible for Minneapolis, Minnesota and many of its western suburbs, wanted to better understand the climate threat to its stormwater management capabilities. The District considered climate projections to assess stormwater system vulnerability and adaptation options for two specific locations. The analysis used downscaled global climate model projections to identify the expected mid-century 1-10 year storm. Stormwater system resilience was then considered under these conditions and a number of areas were identified as undersized. For these areas, estimated costs and feasibility comparisons of several stormwater management adaptation strategies were considered against a baseline of expected flooding damages caused by no-action.

The relevance and need to anticipate and plan for future storm events was observed mere months after completion of the study when over 24 inches of rain fell in the Minneapolis area over a period of three months. This heavy precipitation led to historic water levels and flooding. Using this study to identify and prioritize undersized portions of the stormwater management system will help the Watershed District’s communities adapt to climate change. Recognizing the importance of its effort, the Watershed District developed a guidebook and held multiple outreach events to help other nearby communities replicate its approach and adapt to climate change.

(For more information about this case, view the U.S. Climate Resiliency Toolkit’s case study on the Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability.)

How did they do it?
Action	Applicable Resources
Assessed current climate vulnerability of stormwater drainage The watershed district used a grant from NOAA’s Climate Program Office to develop a vulnerability assessment and analyze adaptation options for two locations in Minnesota. The study used EPA’s Stormwater Management Model to simulate the stormwater system and rainfall runoff for the projected storm events and regionalized climate models from the CMIP 3 and CMIP 5 Models. The analysis focused on mid-century projections for managing the 1-10 year storm - the common design standard for local infrastructure. The study estimated cost per volume and feasibility for several adaptation strategies including pipe upsizing, low impact development, dry retention, and underground storage. The Weather and Extreme Trends projections estimated that for the two project areas the most effective adaptation measure to manage projected future flooding was largely pipe upsizing. Local officials hope this information can better inform local public work projects. The analysis also noted the need for further research to analyze the potential water quality issues and prospects for downstream flooding from increased flows.	SWMM Model Climate Assessment Tool is used for planning, analysis and design related to stormwater runoff, combined and sanitary sewers, and other drainage systems in urban areas.
Engaged the community to provide information to adapt to future conditions Held a Climate Adaptation in Minnesota conference in 2013 to support local officials, planners, engineers, and natural resource practitioners to discuss adaptation strategies. Held four outreach events including three forums that presented and discussed the assessment, findings, and next steps with stakeholders in two focus areas.	Community Adaptation contains a framework for community adaptation planning in the face of climate and landscape change. Green Infrastructure Wizard Tool provides access to tools and resources that can support and promote water management and community planning decisions.

Project Resources

Similar Case Studies

To see how Washington, D.C. is using green infrastructure to reduce stormwater impacts and combined sewer overflows view the case study on how D.C. Utilizes Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater.
For more information on what a Washington, D.C. wastewater facility is doing to adapt to climate change and the threats from flooding, view the Blue Plains Wastewater Facility case study.
For information on a city that is moving wastewater services away from an area vulnerable to flooding view the Iowa City Riverfront Master Plan case study.

Environmental Resilience Institute

Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability