Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) workgroup

Enhancing stormwater management in Minnesota

MIDS work group members

Stormwater management has evolved substantially during the past 20 years. Historically, the goal was to move water off the landscape quickly and reduce flooding concerns. Now we are focusing on keeping the raindrop where it falls and mimicking natural hydrology in order to minimize the amount of pollution reaching our lakes, rivers and streams, and to recharge our ground waters. In order to successfully do so, standards are needed to create consistency in design and performance.

In response to this need, and advanced by a diverse group of partners, the Minnesota Legislature allocated funds to “develop performance standards, design standards or other tools to enable and promote the implementation of low impact development and other stormwater management techniques.” (Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 115.03, subdivision 5c). Minimal Impact Design Standards (MIDS) represents the next generation of stormwater management and contains three main elements that address current challenges.

• A higher clean water performance goal for new development and redevelopment that will provide enhanced protection for Minnesota’s water resources.
• New modeling methods and credit calculations that will standardize the use of a range of “innovative” structural and nonstructural stormwater techniques.
• A credits system and ordinance package that will allow for increased flexibility and a streamlined approach to regulatory programs for developers and communities.

The development of Minimal Impact Design Standards is based on low impact development (LID) — an approach to storm water management that mimics a site’s natural hydrology as the landscape is developed. Using the low impact development approach, storm water is managed on site and the rate and volume of predevelopment storm water reaching receiving waters is unchanged. The calculation of predevelopment hydrology is based on native soil and vegetation. (Minnesota Statutes 2009, section 115.03, subdivision 5c).

Performance goal for new development

In April 2011, MIDS work group members agreed on a performance goal for new development: For new, nonlinear developments that create more than one acre of new impervious surface on sites without restrictions, stormwater runoff volumes will be controlled and the post-construction runoff volume shall be retained on site for 1.1 inches of runoff from impervious surfaces statewide.

Performance goal for redevelopment and linear

In June, 2013, the MIDS work group members agreed on a performance goal for redevelopment and linear.

Nonlinear redevelopment projects on site without restrictions that create one or more acres of new and/or fully reconstructed impervious surfaces shall capture and retain on site 1.1 inches of runoff from the new and/or fully reconstructed impervious surfaces.

Linear projects on sites without restrictions that create one acre or greater of new and/or fully reconstructed impervious surfaces, shall capture and retain the larger of the following:

• 0.55 inches of runoff from the new and fully reconstructed impervious surfaces
• 1.1 inches of runoff from the net increase in impervious area

Mill and overlay and other resurfacing activities are not considered fully reconstructed.

All projects shall first attempt to meet the volume reduction Performance Goal on site. However, if an applicant is unable to achieve the full Performance Goal due to site restrictions as attested by the local authority and documented by the applicant, the Flexible Treatment Options Approach shall be followed in the sequence below and through the MIDS Design Sequence Flow Chart.

Stakeholder input and meetings

In October 2009, we collected input from developers, municipal planners, public works departments, and decision makers to prioritize the most important structural and nonstructural best management practices that are needed for stormwater management. We will be relying upon this list of practices to develop work plans for consulting services.

Stakeholder meetings were held October 7, 13, 19 and 29, 2009, in Brainerd, Duluth, Rochester and Plymouth.

• Stakeholder meeting presentation (wq-strm1-08)
• MIDS stakeholder meeting notes

MIDS work group

In January 2010, a workgroup was formed under the auspices of the Minnesota Stormwater Steering Committee. Members of the MIDS workgroup will provide guidance and recommendations to the MPCA on the MIDs project. Co-chairs of the workgroup are Jay Riggs, Washington Conservation District and Jim Hafner, City of Blaine. Meeting notes and a list of workgroup members are noted below.

• Work Group Members (p-gen3-09)
• Work Group Meeting Minutes (p-gen3-10)

Work group presentations

• June 18, 2010 meeting:
  • MIDS and Antidegradation — Bill Cole
• July 16, 2010 meeting:
  • Runoff Hydrology 101 - Mike Isensee
  • Volume Reduction Standards — Cliff Aichinger/Mark Doneaux
• September 24, 2010 meeting:
  • Introduction to Initial Work Tasks — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12g)
• November 19, 2010 meeting:
  • Review of Background Information and Preliminary Results of Performance Goal Evaluation — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12i)
  • Local Regulatory Review — Bonestroo (p-gen3-12j)
• December 17, 2010 meeting:
  • Performance Goals Evaluation: Stormwater Runoff Rates, Volumes, and Pollutants - Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12k)
• January 21, 2011 meeting:
  • Tracking Runoff and Pollutant Reduction— Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12l)
  • Performance Goals Evaluation: Pollutant Loading — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12m)
  • Antidegradation Assessment — Bruce Wilson and Bill Cole’s presentation (p-gen3-12n)
  • February 4, 2011 meeting:
  • Development Process:
    • Developer Perspective (2/4/11) — Paul Robinson (p-gen3-12p)
    • City Perspective (2/4/11) — Sharon Doucette (p-gen3-12q)
    • BMP Prioritization (2/4/11) — Bruce Wilson (p-gen3-12r)
• February 18, 2011 meeting:
  • Credits — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12s)
  • Performance Goal Summary — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12t)
• March 18, 2011 meeting:
  • BMP’s, Credits and Calculator —Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12x)
• April 15, 2011 meeting:
  • Performance Goal Review — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-13a)
  • Summary of inch/percentage annual runoff volume — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-12y)
  • Status of Runoff Reduction Implementation in the Bay states — Tom Schueler (p-gen3-12z)
  • Overview of Ordinances in the St. Croix Basin — University of Minnesota Law Students (p-gen3-13b)
  • May 20, 2011 meeting:
  • Credit Calculations and Calculator Functions — Barr Engineering (p-gen3-13c)
  • Presentation by Bruce Wilson (p-gen3-13d)
• June 17, 2011 meeting:
  • MIDS Timeline and Summary — Bruce Wilson and Anne Gelbmann (p-gen3-13f)
• October 21, 2011 meeting:
  • Infiltration Basin Technical Team Report — Jim Hafner (p-gen3-13m)
  • Turf Technical Team Report— Shane Missaghi (p-gen3-13n)
  • Update and Future Work - Bruce Wilson (p-gen3-13o)
• November 18, 2011 meeting:
  • Flexible Treatment Options — Barr (p-gen3-13k)
  • Sampling of Local Rules Where Infiltration is not Feasible — Barr (p-gen3-13l)
• December 16, 2011 meeting:
  • Flexible Treatment Options — Barr (p-gen3-13u)
  • Current Status of the MIDS project - Bruce Wilson (p-gen3-13v)
• January 2012 meeting:
  • Flexible Treatment Options: How the Calculator can Help – Barr (p-gen3-13y)
• February 17, 2012 meeting:
  • Performance Goal for sites with restrictions and calculator results-Barr Engineering(p-gen3-13z)
  • Treatment of Dissolved Compounds and BMP Costs — Dr. John Gulliver [p-gen3-14a]
• March 16, 2012 meeting:
  • Flexible Treatment Options: High Impervious Surface Examples — Barr Engineering
  • Water Quality Standards: what they are, how they work and why they matter
• April 20, 2012
  • Polyphosphate treated drinking water: Exploring influence on stormwater
  • Cost Benefits for MIDS - David Newman, Bancor Group
• May 18, 2012
  • Minnesota Low-impact Development Study - Kevin Biehn, EOR
  • Flexible Treatment Options Conclusions - Barr Engineering
  • MIDS Credits: Dry Swales - Barr Engineering
  • Soil and Turf Management for Stormwater - Wenck
  • Permeable Pavement for Stormwater - Wenck
• June 15, 2012
  • Soil and Turf Management for Stormwater
  • MIDS Credits: Dry Swales
  • MIDS Community Assistance Package
• August 17, 2012
  • Draft Flexible Treatment Option for MIDS Workgroup Review and Discussion
  • MIDS Project Flexible Treatment Options Decision Sequence
• September 6, 2012: Iron Enhanced Sand Filter Presentation by Dr. John Gulliver
• October 19, 2012
  • Barr Engineering work plan for stormwater management
• November 16, 2012
  • Status of Barr Engineering Work Orders
  • BMP Crediting Review
• January 18, 2013
  • Status of Stormwater Calculator
  • Status of Stormwater Reuse
  • Status Update of Turf Work Order
  • Volume Loss from Biofiltration Basins with Drain Tile
• February 15, 2013
  • Permeable Pavement Guidance Document and Credits
• March 15, 2013
  • MIDS Credits: Permeable Pavement
  • Bioretention workshop — February 26-27
  • GUI Layout — MIDS Calculator
  • MIDS Credits: Iron-Enhanced Sand Filters
  • MIDS Credits: Swales
• April 19, 2013
  • Flexible Treatment Options Revisited
  • Linear and Redevelopment
  • Linear and Redevelopment MIDS Design Sequence Flow Chart
  • Pretreatment — Vegetated Buffer Strips and Flow-Through Structures MIDS Credits — Swales
  • MIDS Credits — Iron
  • MIDS Credits — Swales
• May 17, 2013
  • Turf Work Order — Presentation of Final Results
  • Incorporating Green Roofs into the MIDS calculator
  • MIDS Calculator GUI Demonstration
• June 21, 2013

Memorandums

• Vegetation and Soils (p-gen3-12a) (12/17/10)
• Performance Goal Alternatives Evaluation (p-gen3-12b) (12/6/10)
• Barr’s Memo on Credit Methodology System Review (p-gen3-12o) (6/11)
• Regional Hydrologic Metrics - Precipitation (p-gen3-12c) (12/27/10)
• Regional Hydrologic Metrics - Infiltration (p-gen3-12d) (12/11/10)
• Abstractions (Interception and Depression Storage) (p-gen3-12e) (12/14/10)
• Regional Hydrologic Metrics - Curve Numbers (p-gen3-12f) (12/14/10)
• Credits for MIDS practices (p-gen3-12u) (2/11/10) Final June, 2011
• Restrictions for MIDS Practices to Protect Groundwater and Prevent Sinkholes (p-gen3-12v) (6/30/11) Final June, 2011
• Assessment of Performance Goal Alternatives (p-gen3-12w) (6/30/11) Final June, 2011
• BMP Construction and Maintenance Costs (p-gen3-13x) (6/30/11)

MIDS 319 pilot project in the St. Croix basin

The St. Croix MIDS Pilot Community Project was established to help St. Croix Basin communities meet state water quality regulatory requirements and provide a real testing ground for the application of the new MIDS performance goals, credits and calculators, and the community assistance package. The Pilot Community Project involves regional and focused community assistance in the form of education, training, review and consultation services, and tools and resources such as model ordinances; all with the intent to apply the MIDS package. Education and training includes NEMO – Nonpoint source Education for Municipal Officials programming and Stormwater U – technical training for staff and consultants. Up to three pilot communities will receive free education, training, and consulting services to update plans, ordinances and codes to protect their local water resources and ultimately the St. Croix River. The MIDS Pilot Community Project is funded by a federal 319 Grant and managed through the Washington Conservation District with input from a Steering Committee.

• MIDS 319 Pilot Project in the St. Croix Basin Community Application
• Letter to Potential Communities from the MPCA (p-gen3-13j)
• "Upcoming opportunities to find out more" — NEMO What's Happening Web site

For more information, please contact Jay Riggs at the Washington Conservation District: 651-275-1136 Ext. 20.

Resources and associated studies

Minimal Impact Design Standards fact sheet

Performance of Low Impact Development Practices on Stormwater Pollutant Load Abatement, prepared for the MPCA by the University of Minnesota (2011).

• Final Report (p-gen3-13q)
• Infiltration Capacity of LID practices (p-gen3-13t)
• TMDL Demonstration Study (p-gen3-13r)
• Sorption and Release of Dissolved Pollutants via Bioretention Media (p-gen3-13s)

Minimal Impact Design Standards Partnership Legislative Report (2011)

Stormwater Design for High Intensity Redevelopment Projects (Chesapeake Stormwater Network) Managing the quality of stormwater runoff from redevelopment projects in highly urban watersheds can be complex and controversial. This Technical Bulletin (no. 5) seeks to reconcile the desire for improved urban runoff quality with the need for achieving smart growth in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Stormwater Reuse Guide (Metropolitan Council) This publication introduces effective alternative techniques for stormwater reuse for the purpose of reducing demand on supplies of potable water in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Tailored for city planners, engineers, and green thinkers, the guide provides step-by-step instructions for bringing a stormwater reuse project from concept through assessment to implementation. [Metropolitan Council, 2011; ZIP archive (7.3Mb) includes publication and supporting documents]

Related links

• Low impact development
• Low impact development for businesses
• Minnesota Stormwater Manual
• MS4 program
• Stormwater Steering Committee

Contact

For more information about the MIDS project, contact Mike Trojan at 651-757-2790.