St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, Ph. V
DNR achieved the following outcomes using ML2018 funds.
-Restored 4 acres of habitat at Interstate Island for threatened bird species, including a 30,000 sqft nesting area.
-Seeded 3,917 lbs of Manoomin with tribal partners across 28 acres.
-Removed 68,000CY of sediment from Perch Lake restoring coastal marsh and deep water habitat.
-Designed and implemented a portion of the Kingsbury Bay/Creek watershed restoration project contributing to an estimated total reduction of over 400 tons of sediment per year.
-Managed and advanced other projects contained in this appropriation and coordinated with partners to identify and prioritize future projects.
ML2018 funds advanced the following projects:
Interstate Island: The goal was to restore the largest Common Tern colony on Lake Superior. Objectives included increasing the footprint/elevation to protect against flooding, enhancing the nesting area, and developing a management plan. The Minnesota Land Trust used ML2017 funds to contract SEH, Inc. to develop the project design and management plan. Final designs were completed in February 2020 and the long-term management plan was completed in December 2020. The project was constructed in 2020-21. ML2018 funds constructed 4 acres of habitat on the Minnesota side of the island, with non-OHF leverage funding construction on the Wisconsin side. The 4 acres of MN habitat are reported in this ML2018 final report.
Manoomin: MNDNR works within a larger partnership to restore Manoomin (wild rice) to the St. Louis River. MNDNR established an agreement with the Fond du Lac Band to restore Manoomin in high priority bays. For reporting purposes, the 39 acres seeded using ML2017 and ML2018 appropriations are reported proportional to funds spent, with 28 acres (3917 lbs) reported for ML2018. MNDNR continues to participate in the bi-state, multi-agency partnership restoring Manoomin.
Perch Lake: Objectives include restoring coastal marsh, deep water, and spawning habitats by removing sediment and increasing the hydrologic connection between the isolated bay and the St. Louis River. Using ML2017 and ML2018 funds, MNDNR established a partnership agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a design for Phase 1 (dredging). The MN Land Trust contracted Phase 1, including a construction contract with JF Brennan Company and professional services with SEH, Inc. Phase 1 began in summer 2022, removing 68,000 CY of sediment to restore deep water and coastal marsh habitat. 15,200 CY of sand/gravel were placed for spawning habitat for centrarchids and native vegetation was seeded or planted. Because two phases of this project remain (to be constructed in 2023-24 using other OHF appropriations), 10 acres of the total 30-acre project footprint are being reported with this ML2018 final report.
Kingsbury Creek (Kingsbury Bay watershed): Objectives include reducing sediment transport to downstream Kingsbury Bay and restoring coldwater habitat. ML2018 partially funded a contract with Barr Engineering to assess the watershed and identify unstable stream reaches, anthropogenic sediment sources, and areas of high bank erosion. The assessment generated a list of 14 potential restoration project sites, of which 8 were selected for design and construction. Barr produced engineering designs for the 8 project sites and assisted with permits and environmental review. MNDNR coordinated access permission from adjacent landowners. Project construction commenced in winter 2022-23 and was partly funded by ML2018. Construction will continue through fall 2023, using funds from ML2019 and other leveraged funds. Total acreage will be reported once completed, under the ML2019 final report.
ML2018 funds were also used to fund staff coordination of future restoration projects on Lower Knowlton Creek, Keene Creek, and Mud Lake, which remain in the feasibility and design stages and therefore are not included on the final parcel table.
$2,013,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore aquatic habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. Of this appropriation, up to $1,350,000 is for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. A list of proposed restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
The 11,000-acre St. Louis River Estuary, at the head of Lake Superior, is a unique Minnesota resource. It is the largest source of biological productivity to Lake Superior as well as the world's largest freshwater shipping port. The combination of extensive wetlands, warmer waters and the connection to Lake Superior resulted in it becoming the primary source of productivity for the western Lake Superior fishery and a critical flyway for waterfowl and other migratory birds. Nearly two-thirds of the estuary's native wetlands have been altered, eliminated or impaired as a result of historic impacts of dredging, filling and waste disposal associated with industrial activities. The St. Louis River Restoration Initiative Program targets locations for restorations that will directly benefit species of greatest conservation need, threatened/endangered species, and targeted species by improving habitat quality and extent in strategic locations to maximize benefits to populations.
The Interstate Island restoration project directly targeted and benefited two threatened and endangered species by restoring and protecting nesting habitat for the Common Tern (threatened) and stopover habitat for Piping Plover (endangered).
Partially completed restoration at Perch Lake targets coastal marsh habitat which provides nursery habitat for species such as Muskellunge and Walleye. A layer of sand and gravel in portions of the project specifically targets spawning centrarchids. The project design incorporated deeper habitat benefiting species like Northern Pike, providing cool refugia in the summer and overwintering habitat.
Partially completed restoration within the Kingsbury Bay/Creek watershed contributes towards the goal of reducing sediment delivery to Kingsbury Bay, protecting recently restored coastal marsh which provides nursery and spawning habitat for species such as Muskellunge and Walleye and supports Manoomin (wild rice). Habitat restoration within the coldwater stream supports Brook Trout and macroinvertebrates.
Multiple (GLRI, GLFWRA, Coastal Prog). See narrative. and NRDA Supperfund Settlement (see narrative)