Whitaker Pond Biochar Filter

• Stormwater filter

• Lambert Creek

Biochar filters are designed to improve water quality by filtering water runoff to remove pollution. Water runoff will collect and soak into the filter basin, which contains biochar. Biochar is an organic material similar to charcoal that can bind to bacteria and remove it from water runoff before it enters Lambert Creek. 

This 1,200 square foot biochar filter is located west of Whitaker pond, a pond constructed to improve water quality in the 90's. The pond and biochar filter treat water runoff from about 650 acres! The filter has some of the following features:

• Biochar and sand filtration media to treat water runoff
• Drain tile to help the filter to dry out between storms
• Clay liner to separate the filter from groundwater

The project was led by VLAWMO and funded through local cash match, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 319 grant funds administered by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and Watershed Based Implementation Funding from the MN Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).

This biochar filter was pursued to help reduce bacteria loading to Lambert Creek, which is currently impaired for E.coli bacteria. Whitaker pond and this biochar filter are located at the headwaters of Lambert Creek and have a direct impact on its water quality. 

Along with removing bacteria, this biochar filter is estimated to annually to capture and remove 4,526 pounds of total suspended solids and 14.9 pounds of total phosphorus. Just one pound of phosphorus can create up to 500 pounds of algae.