Storm Water by Michelle Spangler of Eastside's Board of Directors
Minneapolis was once the home of prairies and woodlands that absorbed rain with deep roots from native plants and trees, filtering the excess and returning a small portion of the water to the nearby lakes and rivers to feed back into the water cycle.
Fast forward to 2022. Did you know that the Minneapolis’ watershed is entirely artificial, an engineered system of pipes that quickly and efficiently drain out streets during rain or snow-melt events? This unfiltered water is funneled directly to the Mississippi River. That stormwater carries a lot of stuff with it into the River. Trash and plastics have been getting a lot of attention lately, but other things that are considered “natural” also pose a threat to our water. Although they make great compost for our gardens, leaves decompose into nutrients that cause our lakes and rivers to turn green and slimy and can lead to greater fish mortality and dead zones. Sediments like the sand put on our roads over the winter can accumulate toxins which are then released when the sediment reaches the river. Sediment also adds additional stress on fish and aquatic life that are already at risk because of climate change. Not only do contaminates in our storm water hurt the River, but the amount of water entering our River at a given time matters too. Too much water pouring into the River through artificial storm drains causes erosion along the riverbank, further deteriorating water quality and leading to an increase in flooding. With climate change, scientists predict that the Upper Midwest will experience more intense rain events with periods of drought in between. That’s a pretty big burden to put on our mighty Mississippi.
Our own health is intertwined with the plants and animals that are dependent upon the Mississippi because, as Minneapolis’ residents, our drinking water is sourced from the River. Since Minnesota is the birthplace of the Mississippi, we have a responsibility to be a good caretaker of our mighty River so that river communities downstream, like St. Louis where I spent my childhood, can enjoy clean, healthy water too.
One of the many reasons I’m proud to be an Eastside owner is that it lives out its mission: “caring about the health of people and our planet”. With the expanstion project that finished in 2015, Eastside invested in an underground infiltration system that captures 100% of the stormwater from the new build right here on our land. Water from the roof and grounds enter drains and a catch basin in our parking lot where the sediment settles out. That treated stormwater enters our rain garden where the long roots of native plants filter and absorb the water leaving it clean again.
According to Paul Chellsen of the City of Minneapolis Public Works Department, Eastside “effectively manages their stormwater providing a significant reduction in the volume of water: 750,000 gallons of water and alsong with all the suspended pollutants [from its] 40,000 square footprint”. As an owner, you can be proud that your investment is making such a big impact on the health of our River.
What else can you do to protect the Mississippi River?
1. Adopt a storm drain
2. Plant native plants and trees
3. Install a rain garden
4. Pick up pet waste promptly
5. Keep shopping at the co-op!
By Michelle Spangler, Minnesota Water Steward, Secretary & Treasurer; Policy Governance Chair Board Assistant, Eastside Board of Directors