More cities are signing on to Minnesota’s GreenStep Cities— a voluntary program designed to help cities adopt sustainable practices. In order to become a GreenStep city, municipalities must adopt a certain number of best practices. The 28 best practices are divided into five categories, one of which is environmental management. Efficient stormwater management falls under this category, with best practices such as creating a stormwater utility, establishing an ordinance to retain 1.5 in. (38 mm) of rainfall on construction sites, and more. In the stormwater category, cities must also achieve activities detailed in the Blue Star certification and award program, which offers public recognition for cities excelling in stormwater management.