In a 2021 countywide assessment of potential projects for reusing stormwater for irrigation, performed by Barr for Ramsey County, Pioneer Park in Little Canada emerged as a top candidate. The city draws two to three million gallons of groundwater each year to irrigate the park’s athletic fields, and changes to groundwater appropriation permits due to the park’s proximity to White Bear Lake may limit its ability to irrigate with groundwater in the future. The Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD), in partnership with the City of Little Canada, embarked on a project to reduce the park’s reliance on groundwater and reduce pollutant loading downstream by reusing stormwater for irrigation.
Barr designed a stormwater reuse system for Pioneer Park that draws irrigation water from an existing stormwater pond on site. We completed initial water-quality sampling and site and bathymetry surveys to inform our design. Leveraging existing stormwater reuse calculators, we optimized the system design to meet 80-90% of the estimated annual irrigation demand.
The system includes a screened intake at the pond with a skimmer, a pump-and-treat system with automatic backwashing filtration and UV disinfection, connections to the existing irrigation system, a reduced pressure zone (RPZ) to prevent contamination of the existing well and groundwater, system controls, and electrical work. The existing well will be maintained as a backup source.
Barr’s engagement with city engineering and parks staff, the parks commission, city council, and RWMWD managers helped build support for the project, which met the goals of conserving groundwater while reducing downstream phosphorus loads by seven to eight pounds per year. Additionally, by temporarily lowering water levels during the irrigation season, the project provides additional runoff storage and flood resilience in an area prone to flooding.
After completing wetland delineations and permitting, we led construction bidding in late 2023. Construction was completed in 2025.
