Stormwater management is critical to preserving the quality of water in Minnesota. The City of Fergus Falls storm sewers drain into the Otter Tail River, Lake Alice, Wright Lake, Hoot Lake and other water bodies. This stormwater has a direct influence on our natural environment.
Any pollutants or sediment that enters the city storm sewer system can harm the aquatic life in our rivers, the animals along its banks, or the thousands of people in the state who use rivers and lakes for recreation or as a water supply.
To better regulate what enters our rivers, the City of Fergus Falls has developed a stormwater management program.
If you have questions about the City of Fergus Falls Stormwater Management Plan or to report a resident/business that is illegally polluting or discharging to the storm sewer system, please call 218-332-5421 or email Stormwater Programs Manager Matt Harrington.
The Fergus Falls City Council has established a storm water drainage utility fund effective January 1, 1997. Residences and commercial properties are charged directly for a fair share of the community's drainage expenses instead of paying for these costs through their property taxes.
The storm water utility bases the charges on the amount of runoff created by a parcel of land. For that reason, several classifications of land uses and rates have been created to reflect differences in the amount of runoff created (i.e. parking lots cause more runoff than grassy front yards).
Why do we have a storm water drainage system?
Before people settled in Fergus Falls the natural state of the land was rolling prairie covered with grass and trees. When it rained, the water soaked into the ground or flowed naturally to the rivers and streams. When people came to Fergus Falls, they built homes, stores, offices, and churches and paved the land with streets, parking lots and driveways. Now when it rains, the ground cannot absorb the water as easily and more water flows off. As the development of the land continued, it became increasingly important to control the storm water. Storm drainage facilities had to be built, maintained and renewed in order to protect the people, reduce insurance risks, enhance the environment, protect property, improve property values and provide for safe traffic flow.
To control storm water and receive these benefits, there is a cost. The adopted storm water utility will spread these costs to those who "create" the storm water runoff.
How will the money from the storm water utility fund be used?
- Money is needed to operate and maintain the present storm water drainage system. A large portion of the storm water drainage fee will be used to:
- Meet current and future state and federal regulations
- Maintain existing storm facilities so they will operate properly for years to come
- Enhance wetlands to clean storm water and retard flows
- Replace existing storm facilities that have become unusable over the years due to the natural deterioration process
- Sweep streets and pick up leaves so this material does not enter the system.
(Note: The initial construction of a storm sewer system will still be paid by the benefited property by special assessment.)
- Fergus Falls is a changing community. Planning for the future as well as the present is extremely important. A storm drainage plan will be developed and kept up to date to determine:
- Where changes or repairs to existing facilities need to be made
- Where and when future facilities will be needed
- What should be done to protect the quality of water in our lakes and stream
Please Protect Our Water Resources
Grass clippings are a significant contributor of phosphorus to our rivers and lakes. The nutrient phosphorus harms clear, free water by creating algal blooms. This process, known as eutrophication, turns the water green, clouds the water, causes odor problems, and depletes the oxygen for fish and other species, effectively suffocating them.
If not mixed into the soil, phosphorus from lawn clippings and tree leaves left in the streets and gutters is soluble and a potential pollution source. Please do not discharge your grass clippings/leaves or other organic debris into the street/gutter.
Public Works employees will clean catch basins periodically, the city encourages homeowners that have catch basins near their property to scoop off debris that accumulates. This will help prevent street flooding and keep the debris from entering the lake or river that receives the stormwater.