Lake Superior College News Releases

Reprinted from the Spring 2008 edition of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Magazine. Written by Nancy Connor with contributions from Gary Kruchowski and Gary Gillin.

Minnesota’s colleges and universities, concerned about the health of campus watersheds and waterways, are taking action to protect nearby streams and lakes by constructing rain gardens.

The 100-acre Lake Superior College campus in Duluth is bisected by Miller Creek, an urban trout stream that cascades down the city’s steep hills to the St. Louis River and then Lake Superior. The college uses the creek as an outdoor teaching laboratory, monitoring water quality and temperature and the species inhabiting the waterway. Faculty observed that rainstorm runoff from the campus’ west parking lot had eroded gullies, allowing warm water carrying fine sediments, car-related pollutants and road salt to enter the spring-fed stream, degrading habitat for brook trout and other stream wildlife.

Through the work of geology instructor Matt Whitehill, the college obtained a $12,000 grant from the Southeast St. Louis County Soil and Conservation District. A rain garden was designed and built to catch and hold runoff from the 2-acre parking lot, greatly reducing pollution entering the creek and slowing water flow following rainstorms.

“This is a step in the right direction for us to practice what we preach,” Whitehill said. “Many of us in the natural sciences cover resource stewardship in our courses. It’s nice to have such an innovative, practical example right outside our door.”

On the Worthington campus of Minnesota West Community and Technical College, two similar rain gardens are under construction. The campus community was concerned that water runoff would have a negative impact on the quality of Lake Okabena, adjacent to the campus. The 500-square-foot rain gardens will hold runoff and filter it through sand before it reaches the storm sewer system and ends up in the lake.

“Our students were excited to participate in making the campus more green friendly,” said agriculture instructor Rolf Malberg. The local watershed board, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the local environmental trust partnered to support the students in covering the cost of the rain gardens. Excavation started in fall 2007, with both gardens to be completed this spring.

“The result of this project will benefit the community, lake and water enthusiasts for years to come,” Malberg said.

Metropolitan State University also installed a rain garden along the west side of its new library during construction in 2004 to handle water run-off.

More About Rain Gardens

To learn more about installing and planting rain gardens and how they protect Minnesota’s water quality, visit:

• The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/volunteer/mayjun04/raingardens.html
• The Lake Superior Streams community project: duluthstreams.org/citizen/wet_garden.html
• The Twin Cities Green Guide: www.thegreenguide.org/article/gardening/rain