Mustinka River Rehabilitation - Phase 2b
The Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project, or Phase 2 of the Redpath Project, is a significant capital improvement project identified in the Bois de Sioux-Mustinka Comprehensive Water Management Plan (CWMP). The Project will meet plan goals for water quality and altered hydrology effects by replacing the existing ditch with a 300-foot wide, 260 acre floodplain corridor with a 6.7-mile meandering channel focused on natural channel design. Approximately 30 water quality side inlets will be installed at targeted areas along the corridor to provide additional water quality benefits to the rehabilitated reach. In addition to the stream rehabilitation, the project will provide approximately 34 acres of constructed wetland habitat and 226 acres of native upland buffer areas within the stream channel and associated floodplain areas, permanently protected by the District.
The Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project was initially supported by an FY22 BWSR P&P award of $800,000. However, because Minnesota's Flood Hazard Mitigation Program was unable to provide additional funding during FY22, the Project Team split the Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project into Phase 2a and 2b. This strategy facilitated the timely expenditure of committed funds and prevented costly construction delays. The Phase 2a effort is currently constructing the downstream 2.5 miles of the meandering bypass channel. It is scheduled for completion in November 2023. The current proposal seeks funding for Phase 2b, which will construct the remaining 4.2 miles of the meandering bypass channel. Phase 2b is scheduled to begin in the spring and will reach completion by the end of 2024. Crucially, the MN FHM program has now committed $4.4M to the Phase 2b effort in 2024.
Overall, the Mustinka River Rehabilitation Project is estimated to reduce sediment loading to the impaired reach of the Mustinka River by 253 tons/yr and phosphorus by 72 lbs/year. This will result in achieving 21% of the overall short-term sediment reduction goal and 19% of the phosphorus reduction goal for the entire Lower Mustinka and Twelvemile Creek planning region as identified in the CWMP. Rehabilitation of this river will meet 35% of the plan goal to stabilize priority reaches to decrease excessive erosion and channel sediment accumulation. This Project meets many goals identified in the CWMP and is one of the largest proposed capital improvement projects listed.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(b) $8,500,000 the first year and $8,500,000 the second year are for grants to local government units to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
With respect to the CWMP, the Mustinka River Rehabilitation project will achieve 21% of the sediment reduction goal, 19% of the phosphorous reduction goal, and 35% of the priority reach stabilization goal.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS