Projects

Stormwater practices will reduce nonpoint source pollution to protect our streams and lakes.

Green Infrastructure

...is systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, or reuse stormwater or runoff on the site where it is generated. Green infrastructure approaches include green roofs, trees and tree boxes, rain gardens, vegetated swales, pocket wetlands, infiltration planters, porous and permeable pavements, vegetated median strips, reforestation/revegetation, protection and enhancement of riparian buffers and floodplains, and rainwater harvesting.

EPA

Project Milestones

Neighborhood Retrofit

One neighborhood retrofit with at least 10 rain gardens as well as rain barrels, soil testing, native landscaping and other practices.

Streetscapes

At least one streetscape with practices such as pervious pavement, tree box filters, and bioretention.

  • Walnut Streetscape - As part of streetscape improvements, infiltration swales with trees, pervious pavement, and infiltration inlets will be constructed along Walnut between JQH Parkway and Kimbrough. View photo log.
  • Campbell Streetcape - As part of streetscape improvements, rain gardens and tree inlets will be constructed along Campbell between Mount Vernon and Walnut. View photo log.
Detention Basin Retrofits

Four detention basins will be retrofitted with practices such as infiltration trenches, pocket wetlands, forebays, soil amendments and native plants. Three detention basins have been selected on the campus of Missouri State University and one located on the campuses of Drury University and Central High School. Retrofits will include BMPs such as replacement of concrete channels with gravel infiltration trenches, outlet structure modifications, and plants that will take up and naturally filter runoff in the basins. The Ozarks Environmental & Water Resources Institute (OEWRI) at MSU will monitor the amount of runoff and the quality of the runoff flowing in and out of two of the basins both before and after the retrofits to measure their effectiveness. View photo log.

Stream Corridor Improvements

One mile of stream corridor improvements using practices such as impervious area disconnection, streambank stabilization and tree planting in riparian zones.

Non-residential Retrofits

Ten non-residential sites such as schools, churches and businesses will receive practices such as rain gardens and rainwater harvesting.

Public Property Retrofits

Three public properties such as city/county campuses and parks will receive practices such as rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, pervious pavement and other practices.

  • Government Plaza (Boonville and Central) - The building renovation for the City's new Environmental Resource Center will include a rainwater cistern and native landscaping as part of Big Urbie. The cistern will collect rainwater from the roof to store and use for landscape irrigation. The landscaping will showcase the use of native plants. Turf grass and traditional landscaping can be chemical and resource intensive. Native landscaping is an alternative that can reduce non-point source pollution. Natives don't need to be fertilized, require less irrigation, and in the right soil can develop very deep root systems that help to infiltrate and use stormwater. Big Urbie will also fund rain gardens and other practices at the Government Plaza. View photo log.
  • Doling Park - As part of the Doling Park Lake & Waterways Improvements, Big Urbie will provide funding for a rain garden and wetland that will filter runoff going into Doling Lake. View photo log.
Wetland Improvements

One wetland water quality practice.

  • Pocket wetlands were constructed in 2011 as part of the Jordan Valley West Meadows cleanup funded by EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants. Big Urbie will fund a wetland learning station and additional plantings to enhance the functionality of the wetlands. West Meadows Fact Sheet.