Rochester earns stormwater excellence award!

At the August 18, 2014 Rochester City Council meeting, Mayor Ardell Brede accepted the Blue Star Award from FMR's Alicia Uzarek.

Photo: Barbara Huberty, Rochester's Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Coordinator

Friends of the Mississippi River is pleased to announce that the city of Rochester has earned the Blue Star Award for Excellence in Community Stormwater Management.

Rochester, like all Blue Star communities, is taking a leadership role in protecting Minnesota's water resources and public health through excellence in stormwater management. The city became one of only 19 in cities in Minnesota to earn the award by scoring highly on the Blue Star Assessment, a rigorous assessment of community clean water policies and practices.

Beyond earning the award, Rochester has the 8th highest overall score out of more than 40 participating communities in the state and is recognized on the Blue Star Leaderboard. They also registered the 2nd highest score in the state on the Stormwater Pollution Prevention section of the assessment.

Rochester is doing truly exceptional work managing area stormwater. Please join us in thanking and congratulating the community, including:

  • Rochester city council members and Mayor Ardell Brede.
  • Barbara Huberty, Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Coordinator.
  • Colby Fangman, Storm Water Utility Seasonal Assistant.
  • City crews who implement stormwater best management practices.
  • City staff and community organizations helping to protect our water.

To view some of the recent media on Rochester's Blue Star Award, check out:

  • Rochester Post Bulletin
  • KTTC TV
  • KIMT TV
  • Stay updated on Rochester's local water news! Sign up for Rochester Public Works Department's "Stormwater News." You can also follow them on Twitter @CleanWaterRoch.

    Is your city a Blue Star Award holding city? Find out here.

    For more information about the Blue Star Award Program, please visit BlueStarMN.org or contact FMR's Alicia Uzarek at auzarek@fmr.org.

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