VRWJPO leverages WBIF to improve local waters

The Vermillion River Watershed was awarded $452,368 from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) Watershed-Based Implementation Fund (WBIF) for projects in Lakeville, Hastings, and Farmington that will, once completed, treat pollutants from stormwater runoff and improve surface water quality in local streams.

The cities of Farmington and Lakeville will retrofit hydrodynamic separator (HDS) systems into existing stormwater piping networks in urban drainage areas. The City of Hastings will divert stormwater runoff into a filtration basin which will also be located within an urbanized drainage area. Between these projects, an estimated 24 tons of sediment and 15 pounds of phosphorus will be removed from stormwater runoff each year.

The projects are made possible with the WBIF grant and financial and technical assistance from the VRWJPO, Dakota County, Lakeville, Hastings, and Farmington. Design work for each project should start in spring 2025 with construction in either 2025 or 2026.

WBIF grants come from the Clean Water Fund, one of four funds established by the Minnesota Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.