Comparing Properties of Water Absorbing/Filtering Media for Bioslope/Bioswale Design

Summary:

Researchers evaluated peat, muck and taconite tailings for use in bioswales and bioslopes along Minnesota highways by conducting laboratory and field tests of their capacity to absorb water, retain pollutants and support plant growth. They found that peat has high potential to replace commercial compost in MnDOT standard bioslope and bioswale design, and that taconite tailings performed comparably to the sand currently specified in MnDOT designs, with the additional benefit of removing phosphates.

Final Deliverables:

• Report #2017-46
• Research Summary

Related Materials:

• Managing Stormwater Runoff With Recycled Peat and Taconite Tailings  - (Blog Post)

Related Research:

• Development and Regionalization of In Situ Bioslopes and Bioswales
• Continued Monitoring of Stormwater Effluents from Filter Media in Two Bioslope Sites