Addressing Stormwater Runoff: How Rain Gardens Can Save Menomonie’s Waterways

The Menomonie Stormwater Problem could be solved with a Rain Garden. Residents can help prevent local water pollution by installing rain gardens that naturally capture, filter, and absorb stormwater.

I’ve been fascinated by the clever engineering of rain gardens ever since I first came across them a few years back in Maplewood, Minnesota.

Because the City of Menomonie operates a completely separate sanitary and storm sewer system, every drop of stormwater entering street drains flows entirely untreated into local waterways. While indoor plumbing from toilets and sinks is routed directly to the Menomonie Wastewater Treatment Plant for purification, runoff from city streets and parking lots bypasses this process entirely. Instead, this unmanaged rain and meltwater carries pollutants straight into Lake Menomin, the Red Cedar River, and Galloway Creek. The City of Menomonie incorporates natural infrastructure like swales, ditches, and rain gardens to reduce the volume of surface runoff. Residents can help prevent local water pollution by installing rain gardens in their yards that naturally capture, filter, and absorb stormwater.

City of Menomonie operates separate wastewater and stormwater runoff systems. Where does all the rainwater go?

The Solution

Rain gardens act as natural sponges that prevent flooding and protect the environment in four main ways. First, they capture stormwater, reducing the overall amount of runoff flowing into street drains. Second, they soak water directly into the ground, keeping sewer systems from overflowing during heavy storms. Third, their deep roots and specialized soil filter out harmful pollutants such as oils and fertilizers before they reach local waterways. Finally, by slowing down rushing water, they prevent soil erosion and structural damage to nearby streams.

The city incorporates natural infrastructure like swales, ditches, and rain gardens to reduce the volume of surface runoff. To help out, residents could build rain gardens in their yards.

How to Build a Rain Garden

To build a functional rain garden, choose a flat spot at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation to protect the basement. Next, dig a shallow, flat-bottomed basin between 6 and 12 inches deep, and mix compost into the soil to help water drain quickly. Direct your roof downspout or driveway runoff into this area, placing heavy rocks at the entrance to slow the water down and prevent erosion. Finally, complete the garden by placing water-loving plants in the deepest center zone and drought-tolerant plants along the dry, upper edges.

In conclusion, the City of Menomonie’s separate sewer infrastructure means that all untreated stormwater flows directly into Lake Menomin, the Red Cedar River, and Galloway Creek. While indoor wastewater undergoes purification at the local treatment plant, street runoff carries everyday pollutants straight into these vital local waterways. Implementing rain gardens across the city offers a highly effective, engineered solution to intercept this pollution. By capturing and naturally filtering runoff right where it falls, Menomonie residents can actively protect and preserve their shared water resources for the future.

How to Build a Rain Garden | This Old House

Further reading: From Sewers to Streams: The Engineering of Sustainable Waste Management.

Student Researchers Investigate Galloway Creek Health

Troubled Waters: The Algae Crisis and Lake Menomin’s Future

Rachel Tilseth is a Menomonie, Wisconsin-based environmental writer, filmmaker, and owner of Wolves of Douglas County WI Films & Media. Lead writer at The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger. Her work explores the intricate relationships between humans, wildlife, and local ecosystems.

Jan O’Neill-editor at large. Jan edits the blog for grammatical accuracy and contributes story ideas.

Given Jan’s extensive 45-year nursing background, protecting the health and well-being of the Menomonie area has been her life’s work. With deep local roots in the Red Cedar River Watershed, she views environmental conservation as a natural extension of public health. Jan is dedicated to halting the proposed mega data center to preserve the community’s natural resources, advocating instead for sustainable, community-driven economic development that protects the long-term quality of our watershed.

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger is based in Menomonie, Wisconsin, in the historic Red Cedar Basin.

Discover how our local economy can thrive without leaving the planet behind. We cover news and stories on sustainable economic development, highlighting initiatives that boost community prosperity, foster equity, and protect our local ecosystems.

We are producing a series of educational articles and interviews featuring city leaders, scientists, and residents to explore sustainable economic development in the region. What began as a grassroots effort by Menomonie residents to successfully pause a controversial data center has evolved into a broader mission championing environmentally conscious, community-driven economic growth.”

The Red Cedar Watershed Ledger, Menomonie, WI

Wolves of Douglas CO WI Films & Media, LLC

https://wolvesofdouglascountywisconsin.com