Muscatine Parking Lot Runoff Solutions

The City of Muscatine was granted IDALS Water Quality Initiative funding to install bioretention cells and permeable pavement in an urban setting close to City Hall as a pilot project for anticipated future projects around the city.  These bioretention cells in the Mississippi River Watershed will remove up to 80 percent of total suspended solids in stormwater, as well as achieve reductions in hydrocarbons, heavy metals, bacteria, nutrients and pesticides.  Flooding and ponding on the parking lot and adjacent street will be greatly reduced.  As the location for the Muscatine Farmer’s Market, this area will be highly utilized by the community and offer a chance for education and awareness of these practices.  The City partnered with the Muscatine Soil & Water Conservation District and the Muscatine Pollinator Project.

Amy Bouska, Urban Conservationist with IDALS and the Johnson Soil and Water Conservation District, stated about the project, “The City of Muscatine deserves a lot of credit for designing and installing the permeable pavement and bioretention cells with City Staff.  This was a challenging project and everyone worked really hard.  They did a great job of turning a highly imperious area into a site that improves water quality, reduces flooding, and provides a habitat for butterflies and other pollinators in downtown Muscatine.”