Stormwater Work in Northwoods

Anyone familiar with St. Louis knows the metro region is divided into something like a gazillion independent, small municipalities. This month I got to meet with representatives of one of them, the City of Northwoods, population 4,643.

Baden Creek, also known as Kinwood Creek in Northwoods, flows through the city and has been causing all of the problems typical of urban streams. Flooding and erosion are both threatening and destroying homes. The city was recently awarded a 319 grant to address the issues, and they've started a geomorphic study to assess the problems and suggest some avenues for repair. In addition to any hardscapes that might be recommended, the city has also embraced progressive stormwater control measures, promoting rain barrels, rain gardens, and native vegetation on the creekbanks. Given how often people still seem to think covering streambanks with concrete will solve their problems, it's refreshing to meet city officials who realize there might be other alternatives for restoring their creek, making it an asset to the community instead of a headache.

My role in the project is small - introducing the Stream Team program and helping them get started on a volunteer water quality monitoring program - but it'll be interesting to see how this project progresses. Won't it be great if Alderwoman Jones' vision of children catching crawdads in Kinwood Creek, like she did as a child, becomes reality.