Name
Greening large-scale stormwater facilities: Addressing the baseflow treatment gap
Date & Time
Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 1:50 PM - 2:30 PM
Description
Urban stormwater retrofit programs often prioritize large, high-visibility projects that capture the majority of stormwater volumes but may inadequately treat baseflows, which like first flushes can carry high pollutant loads. Washington State's Department of Ecology has collected data on retrofit projects for many years, maintaining a dataset of hundreds of stormwater facility retrofits ranging from simple bioretention installations to large regional water parks treating hundreds of acres. This presentation reports on the most significant projects in the state, identified by contributing basin size, pollution-generating impervious surface and treatment efficiency. The analysis examines how baseflows are currently managed and identifies opportunities for green infrastructure augmentations such as biofiltration swales or stormwater wetlands to optimize performance. The work raises questions about whether large regional projects are fully achieving their potential and whether targeted green infrastructure strategies could improve pollutant removal outcomes.
Location Name
M100 D-E
Full Address
Minneapolis Convention Center
1301 2nd Ave S
Minneapolis, MN 55404
United States