Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Client: City of Minneapolis; Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Background
Hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) modeling projects in the city of Minneapolis require an in-depth understanding of both dense urban environments as well as parks, rivers, and lakes. HEI has provided a variety of water resource modeling services throughout the Twin Cities metro and continues to do so.
The Projects
XPSWMM Models for Northeast and Southeast Minneapolis
The City of Minneapolis retained HEI to complete H&H modeling services for the northeast and southeast portions of the city. HEI used XPSWMM to create H&H models, which were then used to simulate multiple storm events and identify flood-prone areas, at-risk structures, and infrastructure deficiencies.
1NE XPSWMM Modeling Projects for Northeast Minneapolis
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO), one of many watershed organizations within the metropolitan area, requested that HEI complete an H&H model using XPSWMM for a portion of northeast Minneapolis as well as parts of Fridley and Columbia Heights. This area is known as the 1NE subwatershed.
This model came about as part of the MWMO and a number of cities set out to improve their understanding of the stormwater quantity and quality within the watershed. The 1NE pilot area is a 2,100-acre storm drainage system that discharges into the Mississippi River. The model completed by HEI is capable of identifying flood-prone issues within the study area and will handle storm events as large as the 24-hour, 100-year event in the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14. This gives the MWMO and cities a tool they can use to target the most effective and efficient locations for capital improvement projects.
P8 Models for Northeast Minneapolis
The MWMO retained HEI to complete Program for Predicting Polluting Particle Passage through Pits, Puddles, and Ponds (P8) models for portions of the watershed, including the 2,100-acre 1NE watershed and the 2,000-acre South Northeast Minneapolis Watershed. The models allow the MWMO to quantify average annual total suspended solids (TSS) and total phosphorous (TP) yields for each watershed. By quantifying water quality within the watersheds, the MWMO can make better-informed decisions about future best management practices (BMPs).
Client Benefits
- P8 models allow the client to quantify water quality parameters within the Twin Cities watershed and make informed decisions about future BMPs.
- XPSWMM models allows the City of Minneapolis, the MWMO, and cities within the watershed to target areas that will most benefit from future capital improvements projects, thereby reducing flood risks and improving water quality.