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Engineering Department | Stormwater
Introduction

Stormwater management is essential in protecting our lakes, rivers wetlands and ground water from pollution and keeping our homes from flooding during storm events.

The entire City of Brainerd is located in the Mississippi River – Brainerd watershed. Almost all of the stormwater from the City will be discharged into the Mississippi River. If the stormwater runoff from our streets, parking lots, and property contains pollutants, then those pollutants also are carried to the river. These pollutants can be detrimental to use of the river for recreation, aquatic life and our use of the water for drinking.

The purpose of this page is to provide residents, business owners, contractors and visitors to the area an educational opportunity to better understand the value of stormwater so we can best protect the water resources of the community. The stormwater page will highlight the efforts done by the City to provide stormwater management and provides a resource to developers and citizens for compliance with local, state and federal stormwater ordinances and laws.

As a resident of Brainerd, your input and participation in this effort is critical to the realization of this goal. To submit questions, comments or suggestions or to report any storm water related concerns, call 828-2309 or email us at stormwater@ci.brainerd.mn.us.

City of Brainerd’s MS4 Permit

What is an MS4? A municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is a conveyance or system of conveyances designed and used for collecting stormwater, which includes roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, catch basins, curbs, gutters, ditches, man-made channels, and storm drains that is owned or operated by a government unit having jurisdiction under section 208 of the Clean Water Act that discharges to waters of the United States.

  • Brainerd’s MS4 Permit - The City of Brainerd was issued its MS4 Permit on June 25, 2007
  • Brainerd’s SWPPP - The City of Brainerd has developed a storm water pollution prevention plan (SWPPP) to deal with all stormwater that enters the City’s system. As part of the SWPPP the City has developed 44 Best Management Practices to reduce the discharge of pollutants from the storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable. The SWPPP covers these minimum control measures:
    • Public education and outreach;
    • Public participation / involvement;
    • Illicit discharge, detection and elimination;
    • Construction site runoff control;
    • Post-construction site runoff control; and
    • Pollution prevention / good housekeeping
  • SWPPP Appendix
  • Annual Reports
    • 2007-2008 Annual Report
Some of the items listed in the SWPPP that the City plans on completing is the following:
  • Distribute Educational Material on how homeowners, businesses and contractors can help prevent stormwater pollution
  • Revise existing ordinances and develop new ones which will better protect the environment
  • Review plans for compliance with stormwater management
  • Inspections of projects for compliance with local regulations
  • Complete inspections & maintenance of the storm sewer system components
  • Complete an annual report to MPCA
Education and Outreach

Funding/Projects

Currently the City of Brainerd charges a storm water utility fee to each parcel located in the City. Residential parcels are charged a $3.00 monthly fee and commercial customers are charged according to the amount of impervious surface their property has. As outlined in Brainerd City Code 715.01, the revenues derived from the municipal storm sewer system are dedicated to the construction, maintenance, operation, establishment and repair of the existing municipal storm sewer drainage system and improvements and additions to the system.

Storm Water Projects
  • There are no specific storm water projects identified at this time
Ordinances

City ordinances related to storm water:

  • Erosion Control – Ordinance deals with controlling sediment runoff from construction sites and the minimum BMP’s that are required
  • Storm Sewer Utility – Ordinance discussed the storm water utility fee that is charged, how it is determined and what the fee is used for
  • Storm Water Management – Ordinance discusses the need for a storm water management plan to be submitted for most construction activities. Management plan must include controlling erosion and storm water runoff, for both water quality and water quantity
  • Storm Water & Urban Runoff Pollution – Ordinance deals with illicit discharges and illegal connections to the storm sewer system
  • Turf Fertilizer – Ordinance prohibits the use of phosphorus fertilizer on lawns in most cases
  • Pet Waste – Ordinance requires pet waste to be picked up and disposed of properly
  • Zoning Ordinances - Many stormwater issues are also dealt with in the zoning ordinance
Storm Water Management Plans
Permits / Forms Required
Links to more Storm Water Info

MPCA Website
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Storm Water Program
MPCA Construction Activity
Environmental Protection Agency & NPDES Storm Water Web Site
U of MN Local Technical Assistance Program

Best Management Practices

Minnesota Storm Water Manual
National Menu of Best Management Practices
Protecting Water Quality in Urban Areas-A Manual
Urban Small Sites Best Management Practice Manual

Public Feedback

Public Comment & Complaint Procedure
The City would like feedback on its storm water ordinances, policies and SWPPP. If you have any questions, comments, complaints, or input on storm water related issues please give us a call at (218) 828-2309 or email us at stormwater@ci.brainerd.mn.us

Report Illicit Discharges
To report illegal dumping or illicit discharges into the storm sewer system, please call us at (218) 828-2309 or email us at stormwater@ci.brainerd.mn.us

Notice for Annual Storm Water Public Meetings

Each year the City will have a storm water public meeting. The goal of the meeting is to receive feedback on storm water management related topics. It is also a chance to educate the community on storm water issues. The publics input on current storm water management practices and regulations will be discussed. The City will use the information gathered and will make revisions to the SWPPP as appropriate.
If you have any questions regarding the storm water meeting or comments on the MS4 permit or the SWPPP, please call the Engineering Department at 828-2309 or email stormwater@ci.brainerd.mn.us.

2007-2008 Public Meeting Presentation
2008-2009 Public Meeting Presentation






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