Trout Brook Urban Stream Restoration - Phase II

At almost 4,000 acres, Trout Brook is the largest subwatershed in the Capitol Region Watershed District and the City of Saint Paul. The restored stream is part of the 42 acre Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary project, whose goal is to return the area back to some resemblance of its pre-industrialized valley of stream floodplain and wetlands. Monitoring results within the corridor show that phosphorus, sediments, bacteria, lead and copper are the pollutants of most concern. The pollution sources directed to the Trout Brook Interceptor storm sewer include runoff from heavy industrial, commercial, transportation, and residential areas. This project will harvest storm water from the TBI, remove sediment, and daylight the water to the surface stream. By redirecting storm water from the TBI through the lift station, ponds and stream complex, the complete restoration project is anticipated to reduce phosphorus loading by 96 pounds per year, nitrogen by 960 pounds per year, and sediment by 16 tons per year. This restoration project also provides aquatic and terrestrial habitat in one of only two designated Metro Conservation Corridors within Saint Paul.