Shakopee Snapshot: Winter 2024-25

PUBLIC WORKS

Safeguarding Shakopee’s water quality Improvements made to downtown stormwater management

If you spent any time downtown this fall, you might have noticed some construction happening in the Second Avenue and Lewis Street parking lot. With the parking lot in need of replacement anyway, the City took this opportunity to construct an underground infiltration system and rain gardens to provide treatment for surface water runoff before it reaches the Minnesota River. The underground infiltration system is comprised of a series of 72-inch diameter corrugated metal pipes coated with aluminized steel. These materials are designed to resist corrosion, giving the underground system an estimated lifespan of 75 years. These stormwater management improvements are expected to have a sizable impact on efficiently and cost effectively filtering runoff to the Minnesota River, including: ■ An estimated 75% reduction in sediment and phosphorus being discharged into the river

■ The removal of 29 pounds of phosphorus annually; phosphorus creates excessive algae growth, reduces water clarity, and negatively affects fish populations ■ The removal of 5,300 pounds of sediment annually; sediment includes anything from sand and leaves to debris and trash ■ System efficiency! Traditional stormwater treatment systems result in costs over $10,000 to remove one pound of phosphorus, but Shakopee’s system will remove one pound of phosphorus at the cost of approximately $1,100 The stormwater improvement project was 23% funded by non-City sources, including a grant from the Board of Water and Soil Resources and a cost-sharing agreement with the Lower Minnesota River Water shed District. The City’s total cost for the stormwater system was $743,665 paid from storm drainage funds. No property tax revenues were used to fund these water quality improvements.

DROP OFF EXCESS CARDBOARD 24/7 Is your recycling bin bursting at the seams? If you have excess cardboard that needs recycling, drop it off at the cardboard recycling dumpsters on the Shakopee city campus, 500 Gorman St., across the street from City Hall. Cardboard only. Please break down your boxes to ensure enough room for all users.

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