City of Missoula looks to address stormwater runoff, protect aquifer – KPAX News

Report on Missoula’s 2023 Stormwater Quality Management Plan and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Safeguarding Water Resources for a Sustainable Community

The City of Missoula has initiated an updated stormwater quality plan to protect its sole source of drinking water, the Missoula aquifer. This initiative directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The plan, developed by Morrison-Maierle in 2023, provides a strategic framework for managing stormwater runoff to preserve both surface and groundwater quality, which is fundamental to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) for the city’s residents.

2.0 The Challenge: Urban Runoff and its Impact on Water Quality

Stormwater runoff in Missoula poses a significant threat to the integrity of its water systems. This runoff, originating from impermeable urban surfaces like roads and roofs, is not processed by the city’s wastewater treatment facility. Instead, it collects pollutants before being discharged directly into local rivers or the ground.

• Pollutant Transport: Runoff carries contaminants such as oil, chemicals, and debris, contributing to water quality impairment. This directly contravenes the objective of SDG 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution.
• Discharge Methods: The city utilizes two primary methods for managing this runoff:
  1. Outfalls: These channels discharge untreated stormwater directly into area rivers, including the Clark Fork River, impacting aquatic ecosystems and challenging the targets of SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
  2. Dry Wells: These structures inject untreated stormwater directly into the ground, posing a direct contamination risk to the Missoula aquifer, the city’s sole source of drinking water.

3.0 Key Findings from the Stormwater Quality Plan

The 2023 plan conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the city’s drainage characteristics to identify high-risk areas and prioritize interventions. This data-driven approach is crucial for effective resource management, a core principle of SDG 11.

• High-Priority Outfalls: The plan assessed 30 unique drainage areas, identifying eight high-priority outfalls in the downtown area that discharge into the Clark Fork River. The Bitterroot outfall, encompassing Pattee Creek, was identified as the largest drainage basin.
• Dry Well Vulnerability: The region’s high infiltration rates mean that dry wells rapidly channel untreated stormwater into the aquifer. This practice presents a significant risk to public health and water security, undermining SDG 3 and SDG 6.
• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Approximately 140 dry wells were identified as needing replacement. However, funding limitations necessitate a phased approach, with the plan prioritizing the top 10 most critical wells for immediate action.

4.0 Strategic Recommendations for Sustainable Stormwater Management

The plan recommends a shift from traditional disposal methods to modern, sustainable solutions that align with global best practices and the SDGs.

1. Adoption of Green Infrastructure: In line with SDG 11.6 (reducing the environmental impact of cities), the plan advocates for green infrastructure like bioswales and retention ponds. These systems use natural vegetation and soil to filter pollutants, treating stormwater before it reaches the aquifer or rivers, thereby advancing SDG 6.3.
2. Development of Protective Regulatory Frameworks: The report highlights the “underground injection control program” in Spokane, Washington, which requires pre-treatment for runoff entering dry wells. Adopting a similar framework in Missoula would represent a significant step towards implementing integrated water resources management, as called for in SDG 6.5.
3. Prioritized Infrastructure Investment: By focusing on the 10 highest-risk dry wells, the city can strategically allocate resources to achieve the greatest impact on protecting its sole-source aquifer, demonstrating responsible management of urban infrastructure under SDG 11.

5.0 Conclusion: Integrating Local Action with Global Goals

The City of Missoula’s updated stormwater quality plan is a critical measure for ensuring long-term water security and environmental health. By addressing the contamination risks posed by untreated runoff, the city is taking direct action to support SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). The proposed strategies, including the implementation of green infrastructure and the development of stronger regulatory controls, demonstrate a commitment to building a resilient and sustainable community, fully in line with the principles of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and safeguarding the well-being of its citizens as outlined in SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily focusing on water quality, urban infrastructure, and public health. The main SDGs addressed are:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around the protection of Missoula’s “only source of clean drinking water,” the Glacial Lake Missoula aquifer, from stormwater pollution.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article discusses urban planning and management through the city’s “stormwater quality plan,” which addresses the impact of “nonpermeable surfaces” from development and the need for sustainable infrastructure to manage runoff.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The connection to public health is explicitly mentioned. The article states that “water pollution can have a cumulative impact on human health,” linking the protection of water resources directly to the well-being of the community.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The discussion on replacing “140 dry wells” and implementing “green infrastructure like bioswales and retention ponds” points to the need for developing resilient, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, several specific targets under the identified SDGs can be pinpointed:

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article’s central theme is protecting the Missoula aquifer, which was identified as a “sole-source aquifer,” meaning it is the city’s only supply of drinking water. The plan to prevent its contamination is a direct action towards ensuring continued access to safe water.
• Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.” The article details how stormwater runoff “picks up pollutants like oil, chemicals and debris, and deposits them in our rivers and streams.” The entire stormwater quality plan is designed to mitigate this pollution and improve the quality of both surface water and the groundwater that recharges the aquifer.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The management of stormwater, which carries urban pollutants, is a form of municipal waste management. The plan to treat this runoff before it enters rivers or the aquifer is an effort to reduce the city’s adverse environmental impact.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.” The article directly supports this target by acknowledging that “water pollution can have a cumulative impact on human health.” Protecting the drinking water source from contamination by pollutants is a preventative measure to safeguard public health.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.” The article identifies failing infrastructure, noting that “140 dry wells needing replacement.” The plan to replace these and implement innovative and sustainable “green infrastructure like bioswales and retention ponds” aligns with this target of building better and more resilient systems.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article implies several indicators that can be used to track progress on the city’s stormwater management goals:

Indicators for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

• Implied Indicator for Target 6.3: The article states the plan “evaluated 30 unique drainages that discharge to high-priority outfalls” and ranked them based on pollution potential. Progress could be measured by the reduction in pollutant levels at these high-priority outfalls over time. Another direct indicator is the number of dry wells retrofitted with pre-treatment systems, as the article suggests adopting a framework similar to Washington’s to require pre-treatment.

Indicators for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)

• Implied Indicator for Target 9.1: The article provides a clear baseline and target for infrastructure renewal. It states the plan “identified roughly 140 dry wells needing replacement” and is initially seeking funding for the “top 10.” A direct indicator of progress would be the number of outdated dry wells replaced or upgraded.
• Implied Indicator for Target 9.1: The promotion of “green infrastructure like bioswales and retention ponds” suggests another indicator: the total area or number of green infrastructure projects implemented within the city’s drainage basins.

Indicators for SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.6: Progress on reducing the city’s environmental impact could be measured by the percentage of stormwater runoff that receives treatment (e.g., through green infrastructure) before being discharged into the river or aquifer, an improvement from the current system where it is discharged directly.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: kpax.com