Rice Creek Watershed District Street Sweeping Funding Prioritization

Background

Street sweeping is a crucial part of stormwater management, helping prevent pollutants—such as sediment, nutrients, metals, and debris—from entering stormwater systems and ultimately reaching lakes, rivers, and other surface waters. In urban and suburban environments where roads and other impervious surfaces are prevalent, street sweeping is essential for maintaining the functionality of stormwater infrastructure.

Recognizing the environmental and operational benefits of more frequent and targeted sweeping, the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) launched a comprehensive initiative to identify where enhanced sweeping practices can be most effective. This initiative aligns with guidance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), which advocates for increased sweeping.

The Project

To support this initiative, RCWD partnered with HEI to conduct a districtwide prioritization analysis. The project’s goal was to identify cities within the watershed where enhanced street sweeping would provide the greatest benefits for water quality.

The study combined geospatial data with survey responses from cities in the District. Our team evaluated six quantitative criteria, including tree canopy coverage over roads, proximity to sensitive water resources, storm sewer density, flood-prone areas, and modeled pollutant yields (phosphorus and total suspended solids). The survey data provided additional insight into current sweeping practices, resource gaps, and the cities’ interest in enhanced street sweeping. The result is a data-driven framework that can be used by cities and counties within the District to guide potential resource allocation dedicated to enhancing street sweeping efforts.