Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase XI

In 2014, the SRRWD created a phased approach to restore, protect, and enhance degraded habitat conditions by implementing projects on a lake-shed basis. Specifically, Phase XI will contribute to the District's goals by:
-Acquire 62 acres of key targeted acquisitions to protect wooded riparian areas along Church and Eberhart Lake, establish upland prairie, and permanently protect historic oak woodlands.
-Enhance 40 acres of wetland basins, reversing wetland loss and habitat degradation while improving nesting habitat and waterfowl food sources.
-Reestablish 190 acres of vegetation into upland prairie from agricultural use in an important flyway that is crucial to nesting waterfowl, upland game, and other wading bird species.
-Habitat restoration and enhancements on 10 acres of lakeshore and streambank sites that is critical for wildlife.

This proposal uses a programmatic approach to achieve protection, restoration, and enhancement of lakes, wetlands, streams and native prairie landscapes. The program includes projects that are prioritized on the significance of the benefits to aquatic habitat, urgency of the work, availability of leveraged funds, location of projects and agreements with relevant planning documents. The SRRWD has a proven track record with the LSOHC and implementing projects that protect, restore and enhance natural resources. The SRRWD continues to receive strong support for these projects from landowners, local governments and sporting organizations.

Once completed, the program will establish waterfowl and fish populations, increase habitat for wetland dependent wildlife, will interconnect and reestablish important flyway habitats and recreate the wildlife mecca in southern Minnesota. Finally, this program will preserve an outdoor legacy for Minnesotans to use and enjoy for generations.

Background:
The SRRWD covers 246 square miles inside Freeborn County and includes a complex system of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes that drain into the Shell Rock River. Managing habitat for this complex system is imperative to the SRRWD as well as understanding its role for providing critical habitat for fish, waterfowl and wildlife. Habitat degradation of wetlands, streams, and shallow lakes is an issue of statewide importance that requires accelerated investment in projects to reverse this degradation. Protection and restoration of this critical habitat is the highest priority of the SRRWD and is directly affected by invasive aquatic vegetation, land use changes, increased water demands, populations of invasive fish species such as common carp, and artificial drainage. Degradation in habitat influences available food sources for game fish populations that include Northern Pike, Bluegill, Yellow Perch and Walleye, and duck populations including Northern Pintail, Redhead, Canvasback and Lesser Scaup.