Collaboration with University of Minnesota will focus on cold-climate challenges

Monday, July 22, 2024
Close-up of stormwater drain with water gushing into it

易胜博官网 will lead the Cold Climate Center of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technology, focused on safeguarding water quality. Adobe Stock photo.

易胜博官网 has been selected to lead the Cold Climate Center of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technology, one of four Centers of Excellence for Stormwater Control Infrastructure Technologies established by the recently. The Cold Climate Center of Excellence for Stormwater Infrastructure Technology (CCCESIT), co-led with a team at the University of Minnesota, received $1.5 million for research, technical assistance and workforce development aimed at improving stormwater infrastructure and safeguarding water quality.

Drone shot of stormwater testing at edge of a parking lot

The Stormwater Center鈥檚 field site, located at the edge of a large parking lot on 易胜博官网's Durham campus, is a state-of-the-art testing facility where innovative stormwater technologies can be evaluated in a side-by-side comparison as stormwater runs off the adjacent large parking lot. Photo by John Nader.


Stormwater 鈥 runoff from rain and snowmelt that flows over impervious surfaces such as paved streets, parking lots and building rooftops and does not soak into the ground 鈥 is a significant source of water听pollution and a threat to the health of waterways across the country. Managing stormwater runoff presents complex engineering and financial challenges to communities, and harsh winters compound that complexity.

鈥淐old climates present a special challenge for stormwater management,鈥 says James Houle, director of the 易胜博官网 Stormwater Center. 鈥淪pring snowmelt, freeze-thaw cycles and road salt pose challenges that we in 易胜博官网 and Minnesota are uniquely positioned to address.鈥

鈥淪pring snowmelt, freeze-thaw cycles and road salt pose challenges that we in 易胜博官网 and Minnesota are uniquely positioned to address.鈥

Drawing on more than 40 years of combined experience at 易胜博官网 and the University of Minnesota, the CCCESIT will conduct research on new and emerging stormwater control infrastructure technologies, provide technical assistance and develop a workforce that will advance a new, resilient, and more effective stormwater future.听The new center鈥檚 goals also include increasing the number of communities 鈥 especially small, rural, Tribal, underserved and/or disadvantaged communities 鈥 that receive information on stormwater technology and financing opportunities for infrastructure projects.

Two initial research projects for the CCCESIT will be research on improvements to biofiltration (rain garden) media to better retain pollutants and research on road salt reduction strategies. CCCESIT鈥檚 work will also include technical assistance and education for stormwater researchers in both the public and private sectors as well as the greater community. The center will provide webinars, workshops and training.

In addition to Houle, who will co-lead the project with Andy Erickson at the , CCCESIT will involve 易胜博官网 associate professor of civil and environmental engineering Tom Ballestero and Daniel Macadam, research engineer for the 易胜博官网 Stormwater Center.

The , founded in 2004, is a dynamic research, testing and educational facility which serves as a technical resource for water managers, planners and design engineers in New England and throughout the United States.听