Missouri Dept. of Conservation highlights Springfield project reducing runoff into area waterways

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently highlighted an urban conservation project in Springfield that converted a 1,000-square-foot patio from impervious concrete to pervious brick, reducing runoff pollution into nearby waterways.

The project was completed in cooperation with Owen Holdings LLC, a Springfield business, and several agencies, including the MDC and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The MDC contributed more than $4,000 to the project, which was also funded by the Springfield-Green County Urban Watershed Stewardship Grant, a $1.1 million fund the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded to the Watershed Community of the Ozarks in 2011.

The patio, which utilizes brick instead of concrete, also uses pea gravel between bricks, as opposed to sand, which further reduces runoff. The reductions will promote water quality and aquatic habitats and allow people to better enjoy water-based recreational activities in the area. It is also intended to promote local businesses.

“Businesses benefit from an environmentally-friendly amenity that attracts and impresses nearby residents while creating a sense of place for the neighborhood,” MDC Community Conservation Planner Ronda Headland said. “It increases the chance that customers will visit other nearby shops and restaurants and spend money in the local economy.”