Compiled by Zach Bell, Campus Public Safety Officer
The student senate from both Coon Rapids and Cambridge campuses recently held two storm drain labeling events to drive public awareness of the stormwater drain systems. Anoka Ramsey Community College maintains MS4 permits for managing stormwater collection. MS4 stands for Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System and is a program to protect waterways from pollution where stormwater management systems drain directly into natural water systems. At the Coon Rapids campus storm drains flow directly into the Mississippi river and Cambridge campus storm drains flow directly into the Rum River, a tributary river to the Mississippi.
The Mississippi watershed is the largest in North America and fourth largest globally. More than 50 cities use the Mississippi River for their daily water supply. Ecologically the river system is home to about 260 species of fish and is a key migratory path for about 60 percent of all North American migratory birds and 40 percent of all migratory waterfowl. (National Park Service, 2022)
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency manages the MS4 program in the state to help reduce common stormwater pollutants. These include pesticides, fertilizers, oils, metals, road salt, sediment, and trash. (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2022) The student activity of drain labeling helps to promote awareness of separate storm drain systems that do not empty into water treatment facilities. Increased awareness can help reduce the unauthorized dumping of pollutants into campus storm drains and promote the role our campuses play in protecting this essential watershed.
Cambridge campus drain labeling event photos from 10/11/2022
Coon Rapids campus drain labeling event photos from 10/4/2022
References
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2022, September 26). Municipal Stormwater (MS4). Retrieved from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Web site: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/business-with-us/municipal-stormwater-ms4
National Park Service. (2022, October 18). National Park Service Mississippi River Facts. Retrieved from National Park Service Web site: https://www.nps.gov/miss/riverfacts.htm
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