Thanks to Mississippi Valley Montessori School for their support. Located in West St. Paul since 1967, they’re an AMI-accredited Montessori school serving children up to age 6. Email us for more info.
Two Rivers High School is installing a bioretention basin to capture runoff from the parking lot before it contaminates local waterways. Students will help with a community planting event.
The project will transform an under-utilized strip of grass between two parking lots into a pollinator-friendly natural area that will filter pollutants and protect waterways.
“The bioretention basin reflects our district’s commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship,” said Mark Fortman, ISD 197’s director of operations. “Located in a highly visible area of our high school parking lot, it serves not only as a functional feature but also as an educational opportunity to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting our water resources.”
- What: A bioretention basin is a landscaped, shallow depression with specialized soil, plants, and a drainage system that filters and reduces pollutants from entering waterways.
- Why: The bioretention basin will capture and filter runoff from the parking lot, reducing the sediment, pollutants, and overall stormwater volume before it reaches Valley Creek and the Mississippi River. That means cleaner water, less erosion, and protecting local ecosystems.
- When: Work has been happening for the past few weeks and should finish up this week, with planting happening on May 20 and 21.
- Who: The Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) partnered with ISD 197 on the project, providing technical expertise and grant funding.
- Cost: The $70,000 project is paid for with a 70% grant from the state’s Clean Water Fund. ISD 197 is contributing about $20,000.
Student Help
On May 20 and 21, Two Rivers students will help with the landscaping portion of the project in partnership with Great River Greening. They will plant 1,227 native, drought-tolerant, and pollinator-friendly perennial, shrub, and grass species including wild bergamot, prairie dropseed, black eyed susan, and red-osier dogwood. The deep-rooted plants will improve soil structure, promote nutrient uptake, and maximize infiltration of stormwater from the parking lot.
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