Downtown Shakopee Targeted Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)

Urban centers change natural hydrology by introducing impervious surfaces like roads, parking lots, and rooftops. Stormwater runoff is the water that does not infiltrate after rain or snowmelt events and runs over impervious surfaces. As stormwater runoff travels across the urban landscape, it collects sediment and other pollutants. Unless this water is captured and treated, it will travel to and pollute surface water resources like local lakes, rivers, and streams. Stormwater runoff from the City of Shakopee ultimately enters the Minnesota River.

Best management practices (BMPs) help protect surface waters by increasing stormwater infiltration and/or removing pollutants. In 2020, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) and the City of Shakopee partnered on a feasibility study in the downtown area to analyze current stormwater systems and identify future potential stormwater BMP opportunities to treat runoff before it reaches the Minnesota River. The study included modeling for preliminary BMP sizing and feasibility, modeling to estimate water quality benefits, life-cycle cost estimates, and a cost benefit analysis.

For this project, the LMRWD included $50,000 in its 2020 budget and was awarded watershed-based improvement implementation funding from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).  The study was completed in 2022. Summary reports contain figures and tables to help communicate the BMPs and their water quality benefits. This project will help the City of Shakopee ensure stormwater management and protection of neighboring waterbodies. Residents can also help improve stormwater management with rain gardens and rainwater reuse. Additional information on residential stormwater BMPs can be found here.

Targeted BMP Study for Downtown Shakopee Sub-Watershed, dated March 2022 

Targeted BMP Workplan 

Scope of Study