Minnesota has a brand new award program for communities that excel at protecting our water quality from urban runoff pollution: The Blue Star Award for Excellence in Community Stormwater Management.

While many cities and townships work to keep our water clean by reducing urban runoff, there are a few communities in our state that exceed state standards and go the extra mile to protect our waters. That’s why FMR, in partnership with Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc and several local partner organizations teamed up to create the Blue Star Award.

The Blue Star Award is Minnesota’s only award for communities that exceed minimum standards and make the extra effort to protect our water. The award is designed to offer communities that excel in stormwater management the positive public recognition they deserve.

The award program is available to any Minnesota community. The program rates key community indicators such as city development codes, site-design guidelines and post-construction stormwater management standards. Any community that scores high enough automatically earns the Blue Star Award for Excellence in Community Stormwater Management.

Is your community a Blue Star community?

The award is more than a symbol for city and township officials who go the extra mile. It’s also a fast and easy way for Minnesota citizens to gauge how well their community is protecting our waters.

In the first six weeks of the program, more than 20 cities have registered at the Blue Star website and completed a self-assessment. The winners are clear!

Grand Rapids, long known as a clean-water community, is the runaway leader so far. Growing communities like Plymouth, Woodbury, Victoria and Blaine are also high scorers, as is FMR’s home city of St. Paul. Congrats to all the Blue Star Cities!

Information on all the Blue Star Award winners is available on the Blue Star site. If your community is a Blue Star community — congratulations! Help spread the word about the great work your leaders are doing to protect Minnesota’s waters. If not, it’s time to ask your city to take the challenge and earn their Blue Star!

For more information visit Blue Star, or contact FMR’s Blue Star Program Coordinator and Watershed Program Director Trevor Russell at 651-222-2193 x18 or by selecting “Trevor Russell” under “Category” via our contact form.

— Trevor Russell, Watershed Program Director