Storm Lake Renovates Lagoon into Water Quality Wetland Site

What was once a lime lagoon that belonged to the water treatment plant is now the Abner Bell stormwater wetland in Storm Lake, Iowa.

The City of Storm Lake received a Water Quality Initiative (WQI) grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in 2016 to construct the wetland and bioretention cells. The 1.12 acre wetland catches 160 acres worth of pollutants, sediment and runoff that would otherwise go into Little Storm Lake and Storm Lake.

The rest of the $336,750 project was funded by the City of Storm Lake and numerous sponsors, including the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA), Iowa League of Cities, University of Iowa Hydraulic Lab/Nutrient Removal Center, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Buena Vista Soil and Water Conservation District, Tyson-Poultry, and Buena Vista University.

The goal of this project is to improve water quality in the North Raccoon River Basin and to target both urban and agricultural runoff before it reaches the watershed. Two subdivisions, an elementary and middle school, as well as agricultural areas drain into the wetland.

The wetland is in a Wildlife Management Area, which makes it a recreational hot spot for Storm Lake residents and visitors alike. It’s also a place to enjoy wildlife and a variety of plant species.

The City of Storm Lake created a stormwater management plan in 2015, which called for the construction of the wetland and installation of bioreactors, bioswales, rain gardens and other projects to help the community achieve its stormwater management goals.

Through these projects, Storm Lake has accrued over 220 acres of flood control, sediment control and nutrient removal. From an environmental perspective as well as an educational perspective, the Abner Bell wetland takes a comprehensive approach to addressing water quality in Storm Lake.