DNR Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Enhancement, Phase 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,208,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
DNR
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2019
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Becker
Blue Earth
Carlton
Carver
Cass
Chisago
Clay
Crow Wing
Dakota
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Goodhue
Hubbard
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Lake
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Mower
Otter Tail
Pope
Redwood
Rice
Scott
St. Louis
Wabasha
Washington
Wright
Aitkin
Becker
Blue Earth
Carlton
Carver
Cass
Chisago
Clay
Crow Wing
Dakota
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Goodhue
Hubbard
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Lake
Le Sueur
Lincoln
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Mower
Otter Tail
Pope
Redwood
Rice
Scott
St. Louis
Wabasha
Washington
Wright
Project Overview

This DNR Aquatic Habitat appropriation used a programmatic approach to achieve prioritized aquatic habitat restoration, and enhancement of lakes and streams across all the LSOHC planning regions. Two large stream restoration projects totaling 54 acres were completed with this appropriation. Also, habitat enhancement projects were completed on 51 Aquatic Management Areas, totaling 1252 acres. Stream habitat work for this appropriation and LSOHC-funded projects from other appropriations was aided by funding for a stream restoration coordinator and interns. These positions aided in public outreach, survey work, design, permitting, contracting, and coordination with project partners on these complex projects.

About the Issue

Stream projects were prioritized based on the DNR's Stream habitat Priority List, where projects were ranked based on a number of criteria surrounding support and outcomes. This appropriation funded two stream projects, both of which involved multiple external partners. Individual project details are outlined below.

Gorman Creek Stream Restoration. Gorman Creek is a headwaters stream that was historically straightened. As a result, the stream was significantly incised and lacked habitat diversity. This project restored about 2430 feet of Gorman Creek and 2450 feet of the tributary. This project addressed bank and stream bed sources of sediment by applying appropriate dimension, pattern and profile to the mainstream channel. By restoring geomorphic stability of the stream and reconnecting the river with the floodplain, this project enhanced riparian corridors and buffers, improved fish habitat and passage, addressed and reduced bed/bank erosion, and improved water quality.

Stony Creek Stream Restoration. The primary purpose of this project was to improve the ecology of the river system by restoring 24,816 feet of a ditched stream to a stable and functioning channel. The project established a natural channel profile, reconnected the stream to the floodplain, and improved riparian habitat by establishing a 340 ft wide vegetated riparian buffer. There are approximately 21 species of fish in the project area that will benefit from improved habitat and water quality.

AMA Enhancement: This appropriation includes funding for personnel tasked with assessing habitat needs on Aquatic Management Areas (AMAs), writing management guidance documents that outline projects, and overseeing project implementation. AMA Specialists completed 5 new site assessments, bringing the total number of AMAs assessed since June 2014 to 253. To date, 170 Management Guidance Documents have been completed. An additional 36 Management Guidance Documents are in various stages of review. In this appropriation staff also planned or oversaw enhancement projects on 51 AMAs, totaling 1252 acres.

The Stream Restoration Coordinator attended watershed planning meetings and identify critical projects for landscape planning, met with partners discuss scope of project (e.g. dam modification/removal options), attended and presented at public hearings and answer questions from the public, attend various partner meetings (e.g. City Councils, board meetings etc.), developed the project with the partner to ensure the partner supports the project and maximizes ecological gains, advised and coordinated with partners to understand contracted policy requirements both technically and administratively, obtained partner resolutions to proceed with the project, navigated permitting and environmental review needs, called for proposals, ranked projects, developed LSOHC applications, contracts, and reimbursement, conducted design reviews and approval, performed final walk through and project construction sign off, and completed financial reconciliation.

NR Specialist been working on culvert data analysis and QA/QC review of the data this summer, digitization of results from formerly surveyed watersheds to be distributed to the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory and for internal DNR use, outreach at various work groups, and aided in various construction projects needs.

EWR interns have completed the Crow Wing watershed culvert inventory.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2019, 1st Sp. Session, Ch. 2, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd, 5(g)
Appropriation Language

$3,208,000 the first year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance aquatic habitat in degraded streams and aquatic management areas and to facilitate fish passage. A list of proposed land restorations and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,208,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$279,000
Direct expenses
$3,200,400
Administration costs
$7,600
Number of full time equivalents funded
None
Measurable Outcome(s)

There are 68 species of greatest conservation need that utilize headwaters to large streams, including birds, turtles, frogs, fish, and insects. Stream habitat projects are not designed with one species in mind, but instead are intended to benefit multiple functions and habitats of the river both within the stream and in the riparian area, which will have benefits for rare species.

Diverse, healthy, productive habitat is good for a wide range of species. None of this work was targeted at a specific species of wildlife or fish. We used the approach that diverse productive habitats benefit a wide variety of both game and non-game species as well as any threatened or endangered species. In our restorations, we use very diverse seed mixes. This is obviously beneficial for pollinators. However, all those insects also create a food base for a large number of wildlife species. The structural diversity all those plant species create in the habitat allow every species to find an ideal niche in the grass as well as accommodates different life history stages of wildlife.

Prairie habitats once covered one-third of the state but presently less than 2% remain and this habitat is key for many threatened and endangered species. Native prairie, other grasslands that provides habitat for wildlife, and wetlands are key components of functional prairie landscapes that have the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This project enhanced and restored over 250 acres of prairie habitat which will meet the needs of threatened and endangered species that rely on this critical habitat.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
A total of 1,306 acres were affected: 54 Restored, 0 in Fee Title, 0 in Easements, 1,252 in Enhance.
Source of Additional Funds

Buffalo/Red River Watershed District

Project Manager
First Name
Dean
Last Name
Paron
Organization Name
MN DNR
Street Address
525 S Lake Ave Suite 415 Box 20
City
Duluth
State
MN
Zip Code
55802
Phone
651-259-5205
Email
dean.paron@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency