Repairs continue at Scandia solar farm after stormwater spill

Extensive work at the site's runoff retention pond this winter is intended to increase the holding capacity before spring melt.

By St. Croix 360 | February 21, 2019 | < 1 minute read

From the City of Scandia, Feb. 6 city council work session minutes:

Stormwater pond dredging evident on Dec. 10, 2018 (Greg Seitz, St. Croix 360)

Wendy Green provided an update on the measures taken at the Argo Navis community solar site (former Zavoral gravel mine) following the stormwater discharge last September. They are working with the Carnelian-Marine Watershed on approval of engineered plans for improvements to stormwater storage on the site, with a final concept plan ready for review.

Raised elevations, additional holding capacity to the ponds, web-based monitoring of water levels and a discharge overflow pipe to completely channel potential discharge were explained.

Green said modeling shows these improvements have the capacity to contain back-to-back 100- year flood events. Assessment of the damaged downslope and wetland remediation measures will be undertaken this spring.

Carnelian-Marine Watershed Administrator Jim Shaver said BHE is taking serious steps to address corrections to the site, including a maintenance plan for the stormwater ponds. Repairs to the roadway along the river are being communicated to the property owners for work this spring.

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Comments

Lisa Schlingerman says

February 22, 2019 at 3:52 pm

I wonder where the discharge overflow pipe flows. It’s on the river side

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Repairs continue at Scandia solar farm after stormwater spill

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<p><em>From the <a href="https://www.ci.scandia.mn.us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="City of Scandia (opens in a new tab)">City of Scandia</a>, Feb. 6 city council work session minutes:</em></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://www.stcroix360.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Scandia-solar-farm-Dec-10-2018-1000x750.jpg" alt="Stormwater pond dredging evident on Dec. 10, 2018 (Greg Seitz, St. Croix 360)" class="wp-image-16666"/><figcaption>Stormwater pond dredging evident on Dec. 10, 2018 (Greg Seitz, St. Croix 360)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Wendy Green provided an update on the measures taken at the Argo Navis community solar site (former Zavoral gravel mine) following the stormwater discharge last September. They are working with the Carnelian-Marine Watershed on approval of engineered plans for improvements to stormwater storage on the site, with a final concept plan ready for review.</p>
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<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Raised elevations, additional holding capacity to the ponds, web-based monitoring of water levels and a discharge overflow pipe to completely channel potential discharge were explained.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Green said modeling shows these improvements have the capacity to contain back-to-back 100- year flood events. Assessment of the damaged downslope and wetland remediation measures will be undertaken this spring.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->

<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Carnelian-Marine Watershed Administrator Jim Shaver said BHE is taking serious steps to address corrections to the site, including a maintenance plan for the stormwater ponds. Repairs  to the roadway along the river are being communicated to the property owners for work this spring. </p>
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