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Irving Park stormwater bio-filtration project nears completion

[DULUTH, MN] The City of Duluth’s Irving Park stormwater bio-filtration basin, located in the Irving Park neighborhood at 20 South 57th Avenue West, is substantially complete.

When it rains, stormwater runs off impervious surfaces such as streets, sidewalks, driveways, and roofs. This runoff carries sediment, trash, and other pollutants to stormwater utility infrastructure prior to eventually draining into nearby waterbodies.

The Irving Park stormwater bio-filtration basin will intercept stormwater runoff from approximately 17 acres of neighboring streets and properties. The project included an underground vault that will capture sediment and trash where it can be periodically removed by City of Duluth Public Works and Utilities staff. The stormwater will then be filtered by the basin, improving water quality prior to draining to Keene Creek, a nearby designated trout stream that runs through Irving Park. The basin filter includes native vegetation and sand mixed with biochar and iron filings which will remove bacteria, nutrients, and other pollutants prior to discharge to Keene Creek.

Additional work will be completed in spring of 2026 to add perennial native vegetation, trees, and educational signage. Diversion of stormwater into the basin will begin once vegetation is established.

The basin was constructed with funding from The Great Lakes Commission through the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program, the United States Army Corps of Engineers 569 Program, and the City of Duluth Stormwater Utility Fund.

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