News / November 15, 2021

MWMO Awards Grant to Xcel Energy for Stormwater and Habitat Project

New Minneapolis Xcel Energy Campus will Restore and Improve Habitat Near Mississippi River

MINNEAPOLIS — The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) has awarded grant funding to Xcel Energy for a project to provide water quality and habitat improvements at its planned office facility in Northeast Minneapolis.

The MWMO Board of Commissioners voted November 9, 2021, to approve $295,000 in Capital Project Grant funds for the Xcel Energy Marshall Operations Center, to be located at the northwest corner of St. Anthony Parkway and Marshall Street NE. The funding will be used for a variety of pollinator and wildlife habitat improvements, as well as stormwater best management practices (BMPs).

The project will remove most of the invasive plant species and install a variety of native trees, shrubs, and perennials. A variety of stormwater treatment systems are also integrated into the design, including infiltration basins, vegetated swales, and pretreatment structures. Together, these will remove an estimated 95 percent of phosphorus and sediment from the site’s stormwater runoff.

The redeveloped site will serve as a connection between several existing prairie and woodland habitat areas near the Mississippi River. Xcel Energy also plans site amenities such as a walking path, patio area, and interpretive features to educate visitors on the stormwater and habitat features.

Project partners include Loucks and RSP. Construction of the site’s landscaping is planned to start in the Summer of 2022.

(Top image courtesy Xcel Energy)

Deadlines Approaching for New Grant Applications

The MWMO is currently accepting applications for the following grant programs:

Community Grants

Community Grants are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects. The grant amount may not exceed $5,000. No matching funds are required.

Application Deadline: Friday, December 3, 2021

Details: https://www.mwmo.org/get-involved/stewardship-fund-grants/community-grants/

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