Future updates

We will be populating this site with information on future updates to the Manual. We anticipate having this page up-to-date by mid-August. Timelines shown below are approximate.

Updates to the bioretention section

(August-October, 2013). Updates include the following:

• definitions, examples and graphics that differentiate filtration, bioretention and infiltration BMPs and different types of filtration, bioretention and infiltration BMPs;
• guidance and recommendations for determining soil infiltration rates within infiltration and bioretention BMPs;
• refinement of existing stormwater pretreatment requirements or guidelines for each bioretention and infiltration BMP type;
• guidance and recommendations on the use of soil ripping to increase infiltration capacity of infiltration and bioretention BMPs;
• guidance and recommendations on the use of soil amendments to improve the infiltration and pollutant removal function of infiltration and bioretention BMPs;
• updated design specifications for bioretention and infiltration BMPs;
• new information on construction methods, construction techniques, and maintenance of infiltration and bioretention BMPs; and
• information on credits for water volume, phosphorus, and total suspended solids.

Creation of a section on trees (urban forestry)

(October-December, 2013). The section will likely include multiple pages similar to other BMP sections and will include the following information:

• an overview, inclduing graphics, on the use of urban forestry and trees for stormwater management in urban land use settings;
• a list of tree species appropriate for Minnesota;
• design specifications for tree quality, soil characteristics (quality and volume) for tree BMPs, and tree planting;
• construction design specifications for tree stormwater BMPs;
• guidelines for construction activities adjacent to existing trees;
• maintenance guidelines for trees;
• monitoring guidelines for tree BMPs;
• guidelines for street sweeping to remove tree debris;
• a fact sheet summarizing the applicability of urban forestry to stormwater management and use of trees as urban stormwater BMP;
• 5 to 10 case studies of existing urban forestry efforts and programs; and
• information on credits for water volume, phosphorus, and total suspended solids, including credits associated with evapotranspiration and canopy interception.

Updates to information on infiltration and infiltration constraints

(Spring/Summer, 2014) New information is being added and existing information updated on topics related to infiltration of stormwater. Updates and new information include:

• a section providing an overview of basic concepts related to the infiltration of stormwater;
• a summary of Best Management Practices that can be used for stormwater infiltration;
• a summary of select monitoring studies that investigated groundwater quality impacts associated with stormwater infiltration;
• an overview of area-wide or regional groundwater quality or quantity impacts associated with stormwater infiltration;
• a summary of stormwater pretreatment considerations for protecting shallow groundwater quality;
• a summary of groundwater mounding considerations for infiltrated stormwater;
• a summary of information on groundwater separation distances for infiltrated stormwater;
• updates to information on stormwater infiltration constraints, including Additional Guidance for Karst, Shallow Bedrock, Ground Water, Soils with Low Infiltration Capacity, and Potential Stormwater Hotspots (PSHs);
• a summary of considerations for stormwater infiltration in Wellhead Protection Areas; and
• a summary of considerations and options for stormwater infiltration in areas with contaminated soils or contaminated groundwater, including Brownfields.