HOA Stormwater Tools
Learn how to care for the stormwater infrastructure in your homeowner’s association by viewing the resources below. Also, signup to receive updates on stormwater education for HOAs!
2025 Stormwater Leaders Course
In partnership with the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center and Minnesota Sea Grant, we are offering a HOA Stormwater Leaders Course on Planning for Long-Term Management in 2025. This course is for HOA board members who live in Washington County, have property that the HOA collectively owns and manages, and have a stormwater feature that collects water, such as a stormwater pond, wetland, or raingarden. The course includes 3 workshops between January and May. View the factsheet for more detailed information on content and dates. Apply by December 31st 2024!
HOA Stormwater Toolkit
These fact sheets were developed based on the findings of the 2023-24 research project in partnership with Wilder to educate HOA leaders on key stormwater topics. Click on each image to view/download a PDF.
Intro to Stormwater
Managing Costs
Invasive Species
Stormwater Practices
Lawn Care Practices
Tree Care
Stormwater Ponds
Native Vegetation
Case Study- Smart Controllers
Wetlands
Snow & Ice Removal
Case Study- Reuse
2024 HOA Mini Conference
On May 31, 2024, we hosted our first ever mini conference for HOA leaders at the Stillwater Library. The agenda included three informative presentations, a first look at our new HOA Stormwater Toolkit, and the opportunity to network with other HOA leaders. Click on each image to view/download the presentation.
HOA Mini Conference - Hannah Peterson, Climate Impact Corps at WCD
Intro to Stormwater Ponds - Andrew Coyne, City of Stillwater
Native Plants and Soil Health - Cameron Blake, WCD
Long-Term O & M of Stormwater Treatment Practices - Andy Erickson, SAFL
HOA RESEARCH Projects
2023-24: Stormwater Maintenance in HOA Communities
In 2023-24, we worked with Wilder Foundation to conduct a survey and focus groups with HOA board members and property managers to learn more about their stormwater education needs.
This project is funded, in part, by the Minnesota Sea Grant College Program with funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Minnesota Water Resources Center, in partnership with the Minnesota Stormwater Research Council and the Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.
2014: Green Communities
In 2014, we received a Clean Water Fund Grant to engage HOAs in clean water programs like raingardens. In 2017, a guidebook was created to share findings from focus groups with HOA board members, property managers, and lawn care companies in addition to stormwater reduction projects with five Washington County HOAs.
Additional Resources
The following resources were used in the development of the HOA Stormwater Toolkit. While most are not directly targeted at HOAs, they give informative insight into various green infrastructure practices and will include more detailed information to help you reach your stormwater management goals.
Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation provides a number of resources related to trees, including How to Plant Containerized Trees and Tree Care Tips & Techniques.
Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water
Blue Thumb is Metro Blooms’ education program about planting for clean water and pollinators. Their Resources Page has a comprehensive list of resources, with other key items being their Plant Finder tool and information on the Lawns to Legumes grant program.
City of Roseville
The City of Roseville has started a Private BMP Maintenance Program where they have requirements for stormwater infrastructure in HOAs. Their Private BMP Maintenance Page includes information on maintenance that could provide a model for other cities or communities to follow.
City of Woodbury
The City of Woodbury is a leader in water efficiency. They have a Water Conservation Page, as well as one dedicated to Managing Irrigation Systems. They also have information about their Water Efficiency Cost Share Program for HOAs.
Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange
The Green Infrastructure Leadership Exchange has created a number of climate and green infrastructure resources including a Climate Resilience Resource Guide and a Green Stormwater Infrastructure Asset Management Resources Toolkit.
Hennepin County Chloride Initiative (HCCI)
HCCI has created resources for the Low Salt, No Salt Minnesota program in partnership with Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District and other local partners.
Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership
The Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership created Raingarden Videos, in partnership with the Washington Conservation District and the East Metro Water Resource Education Partnership (EMWREP).
Midwest Invasive Plant Network (MIPN)
MIPN provides has a number of resources related to native plants in the Midwest. They have created Why Should I Care About Invasive Plants? and Landscaping with Native Plants to Ward Off Invasives & Benefit Wildlife. They also have an Invasive Plant Control Database with information on how to control many common invasive species.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA)
MDA provides resources on noxious weeds including the Minnesota Noxious Weed List and A Guide to Removal and Disposal of Noxious Weeds in Minnesota.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
The DNR has informative resources on Wetlands, Invasive Terrestrial Plants, and Tree Planting and Care.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
The MPCA houses the Minnesota Stormwater Manual, a go-to resource for all things stormwater in the state. They also have their GreenStep Cities program with guidance on Stormwater Management as well as the Gold Leaf Challenge which could be adopted by HOAs and communities.
Philadelphia Water
Philadelphia Water has created the Green Stormwater Infrastructure Maintenance Manual.
Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD)
RCWD has a Resource Page related to grant projects and stormwater management. Some of these were created in partnership with Freshwater/Master Water Stewards and other organizations. They also have a page dedicated to Best Management Practices and Maintenance and created a Self-Inspection Guide for Rain Garden Owners in partnership with Anoka Conservation District.
University of Florida
The University of Florida IFAS Extension program has a Healthy Ponds Page including resources on healthy stormwater ponds. While tailored for Florida, they still include relevant content to Midwest ponds.
University of Minnesota
Through its numerous programs, UMN has developed many resources related to stormwater management and landscaping. St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL) works on stormwater research and has produced Visual Inspection Checklists for stormwater treatment practices. UMN Extension has resources on Weed Identification and Protecting Trees and Shrubs in Winter. The Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota Duluth created the North Shore Homeowners Guide to Managing Stormwater.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
The EPA provides guidance on many different environmental topics. Their Green Infrastructure Page links to numerous informative resources. They also created two informative guides, the Bioretention Design Handbook and the Green Streets Handbook. The EPA also has a Wetlands Protection and Restoration Page with detailed information on wetlands.
West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA)
The West Metro Water Alliance has created a few guides including Maintain Your Property the Watershed Friendly Way.
Do YOU KNOW YOUR WATERSHED DISTRICT?
You can also get in touch with your local watershed district for stormwater management guidance, and check out their websites for resources. If you don’t know which watershed district you reside in, find out below on the map provided by the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR).