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Stormwater
Ponds In Apple Valley
Did you know...
The City of Apple Valley has approximately 180 lakes
and ponds, of which many of these are used for stormwater treatment.
As urban areas develop and green space is turned into streets,
parking lots, and rooftops, the rate at which precipitated water (rain
and snowmelt) is absorbed into the soil declines tremendously. This runoff
from these hard surfaces is stormwater.
In order to prevent the flooding of homes
and businesses, stormwater is carried away. It is channeled into gutters,
storm drains, and catch basins that flow into underground pipes. These
underground pipes carry the water to our nearest pond, wetland, or lake.
From that pond or wetland, it will continue to go through a channel of
ponds until eventually this stormwater will flow to the Vermillion River
or Black Dog Lake (Minnesota River). Thereby, carrying our water quality
impacts downstream. Remember, our water resources are interconnected.
To view a diagram showing the
impacts of a home on stormwater >>>
The contents of our storm water can have detrimental impacts on our water
resources.
- Oil, grease, and pesticides can harm wildlife and fish.
It can kill the animals that inhabit these natural areas, leaving sterile
wetland environments.
- Leaves, grass clippings, fertilizer, and pet waste
carry high amounts of phosphorous. The phosphorous causes nutrient rich
conditions allowing algae and nuisance weeds to flourish.
Algae is the green scummy material often seen
in our ponds and lakes. It is responsible for the greenish brown color
of the water. As algae grows and dies, it recycles the phosphorous.
It also uses oxygen and can be responsible for fish kills. Link
to flash animation >>>
Aquatic vegetation is an important component of lake ecosystems. Phosphorous
from our stormwater promotes nutrient rich bodies of water and an imbalance
in vegetation. Nuisance vegetation becomes predominant, out competing
the natural vegetation. This drastically changes the natural ecosystem
and causes a reduction in plant and animal diversity. It also impacts
recreational activities, like fishing, swimming, and boating.
Our stormwater can cause wetlands, ponds, and lakes to become sterile,
green, stagnant, polluted environments. Common litter, like cigarette
butts tossed out of car windows, or pop cans and fast food wrappers are
carried by rain into our ponds. We as a community are inadvertently polluting
our own water resources.
How Does Apple Valley Manage Stormwater?
The City of Apple Valley performs a number of activities
on an annual basis to reduce adverse impacts from stormwater on our neighborhood
lakes, ponds, and wetlands. Activities include, but are not limited too:
- Addition of barley straw to publicly owned ponds to
reduce occurrences of algal blooms.
- Inspection and maintenance of stormwater ponds and
other parts of the stormwater system to reduce flooding and remove a
portion of the sediment and other pollutants that enter the system.
- Review of new construction projects to ensure new
areas of construction are not adversely affecting our natural resources
or overly taxing the stormwater system.
- Biannual street sweeping to prevent road debris from
entering the stormwater system.
For more information on how the City of Apple Valley manages
stormwater, check out the City
of Apple Valley Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program >>>.
What Can I Do to Help?
It is up to all of us to make a difference. One households
lawn clipping blown into the street is not going to cause significant
damage to the neighborhood pond or wetland, but multiply that by the hundred
homes in the neighborhood and watch that pond turn green.
We must work together, understanding that our own actions
can have impact to our water resources.
- Do not toss litter, like cigarette butts, pop cans,
or wrappers, in the street or highway. Please place them in the appropriate
garbage receptacle.
- Do not blow your leaves or grass clippings into the
street. Remember, these will be washed directly into your neighborhood
pond or wetland. Eventually the phosphorous created by this organic
material will wind up impacting not only your neighborhood pond, but
those downstream including the Vermillion River or Black Dog Lake.
- Pick up after your pet.
Figure 1: Courtesy of cities of Bellvue, Seattle, and Tacoma,
King County and the Department of Ecology, Washington.
- Plant a natural buffer strip between your yard and
the pond to filter runoff. The strip should be 25 to 50 feet wide and
have grasses, shrubs and trees to be fully effective. Aquatic and semi-aquatic
vegetation will also take nutrients from the water to reduce algae blooms;
vegetation also limits shoreline erosion into the pond. Mow no more
than 3 to 4 times per year inside the buffer zone. Also, maintain the
grass height inside the buffer to a minimum height of 6 to 8 inches.
- Do not allow any household or automotive chemicals
to drain into the yard or storm drain system. Swimming pools must be
neutralized prior to draining. Use biodegradable soaps for outdoor cleaning.
Figure 2: Courtesy of cities of Bellvue, Seattle, and Tacoma,
King County and the Department of Ecology, Washington.
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Studies indicate that Apple Valley soils have enough
phosphorous available for plant growth. Use a zero phosphorous fertilizer.
(Phosphorous is the middle number on the fertilizer bag.) As
of January 1, 2005, State law prohibits the use of fertilizer containing
phosphorus on lawns state-wide, unless a qualified soil test shows otherwise.
- Turn your rooftop downspout so it drains onto your
lawn; or consider installing a rain garden or rain barrel on your property.
Disconnecting downspouts from hard surfaces, such as driveways and sidewalks,
can reduce flooding downstream and reduce pollutants in storm water
by allowing water to infiltrate into the ground. For
more information on what you can do at home >>> For
more information on rain gardens >>>
- Let other people know not to dump materials down the
stormdrain. The City of Apple Valley offers stormdrain stenciling kits
for checkout, free of charge to groups or individuals. Kits include
paint, instructions, stencils, and safety equipment. To request checkout
of a stenciling kit, contact
Apple Valley staff.
- Do not dispose of aquarium plants, aquarium fish, or
live bait in ponds, lakes, wetlands, or stormdrains. Introducing plants
and animals not naturally found in a waterbody can have unintended consequences
which include adverse impacts to water quality, lake/pond ecology, native
aquatic plants, and naturally occurring fish populations. For
more information on nuisance aquatic plants and animals >>>
Where Do I Go For Help?
Residents who wish to treat their ponds for algae blooms
or excess weed growth are encouraged to contact a professional lake or
pond restoration company. The City does not treat stormwater ponds or
wetlands located on private property for algae or weeds.
Content updated on:
07-Sep-2007
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