Follow us on

Stormwater 319 Grant Project

The City of Columbia is continually trying to lead by example. When an opportunity became available to fund stormwater improvements to City property, Public Works jumped at the chance. In coordination with Boone County, the Public Works Department applied and received an Environmental Protection Agency grant, through Missouri Department of Natural Resources, to demonstrate the installation of stormwater retrofits on an industrial site.

Public Works Environmental Services staff proposed retrofitting the Grissum and Power Plant properties with stormwater controls to remove pollutants. Currently, stormwater runoff from these sites drains to Bear Creek. Stormwater runoff picks up pollutants (oil, grease, excess nutrients, sediment, metals) and carries it to our creeks and streams where it impacts water quality. Pollutants in our creeks and streams affect all animal life from crawdads to fish to mammals. These pollutants then travel to our rivers where they can affect drinking water and the water we use for recreation. By treating the water closer to its source, we keep our waterways cleaner.

Stormwater retrofits, such as raingardens and bio-retention cells,  remove pollutants from the “first flush” rainfall and encourage stormwater to infiltrate into the ground instead of running off. When complete, the stormwater retrofits for the Grissum and Power Plant properties will appear to be landscaping areas, but they will serve the very important role of removing pollutants from stormwater.  County and City staff will monitor runoff and pollution reduction from the retrofits to provide information to the engineering and development community.

One of the other highly anticipated pieces of the work to be completed includes turning the existing detention area into an underground detention area that can be covered with pervious asphalt and create more parking spaces! This feature is planned to be constructed in Winter 2012-13.

Project Overview

US Enviornmental Protection Agency Region 7, through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has provided partial funding for this project under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act. (G11-NPS-12)

Grissum Building Parking Lot, 1313 Lakeview Ave.

Aerial of Grissum Property