JEFFERSON CITY, MO, Aug. 26, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has awarded a $611,321 grant to the city of Northwoods, in north St. Louis County, for the Northwoods - Baden Creek Bank and Water Quality Stabilization Project. The Northwoods - Baden Creek Bank and Water Quality Stabilization Project will evaluate the existing conditions of the stream and generate recommendations for improvements to Baden Creek. These improvements include reducing erosion, improving water quality, controlling localized flooding and educating citizens on the destructive nature of nonpoint source pollutants on the creek environment. Grant funding will be used to conduct a study and develop a comprehensive watershed management plan to assess problems along the entire creek bank.
The project will address water pollution and creek bank erosion problems in the watershed by implementing storm water best management practices and demonstration methods in the critical areas of the stream. The storm water and stream stabilization practices implemented will include rain gardens and barrels, grade control structures, toe stabilization and bio-engineered plantings indigenous to conditions of the creek. The project will also implement a resident and community educational program to inform watershed residents about the impacts that nonpoint sources of pollution can have on the stream water quality and share possible solutions to address the problems.
Nonpoint source pollution is untreated pollution that generally cannot be traced back to a single source. Often, nonpoint source pollution is difficult to identify and control and can be traced to multiple sources, both natural and manmade, within a watershed. Storm water runoff, snowmelt and irrigation can carry pollutants like garden fertilizers, construction debris and pesticides into nearby waters.
For years, Baden Creek, which encompasses 426 acres in the city of Northwoods, has been the site of nonpoint source pollution in the form of sedimentation from creek bank erosion and storm water runoff, which have contributed to flooding of residential property. The extent of impervious surfaces such as residential driveways, patios, decaying sewer and storm water infrastructure and lack of open spaces has made runoff control difficult. At risk are increasing degradation of an unstable stream, continued loss of real property for more than 245 homeowners and the potential for declining resale value of real estate in Northwoods.
The city of Northwoods will provide a match contribution of $407,568 over the life of the project bringing the total cost of the project to $1,018,889. Contributing partners in this collaborative effort include St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District, the Missouri Department of Conservation, St. Louis County Health Department, Reitz and Jens Inc., Intuition and Logic, St. Louis University-Region Wise College of Public Service.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, through the Department of Natural Resources, has provided funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
The grant will be administered by the Department of Natural Resources' Water Protection Program. For more information, contact the department's Water Protection Program at P.O. Box 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by calling 800-361-4827 or 573-751-1300.
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