Shell Rock River Habitat Restoration Program - Phase V
The Shell Rock River Watershed District's Phase 5 Habitat Restoration Program will restore, enhance, and protect 1040 acres of essential shallow lake, wetland and stream bank habitat benefiting fish, waterfowl and wildlife populations, preserving an outdoor legacy for future generations.
The Shell Rock River Watershed District (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. Among the District’s 11 lakes are Fountain Lake and Albert Lea Lake, which are located in the core of Freeborn County. These lakes are important to residents for recreation and vital to Albert Lea’s tourism economy and identity.
With The Phase 5 Habitat Restoration Program the District completed 3 acquisitions along with wetland
restorations and vegetation enhancements.
For each of the land acquisitions the process starts the same, the District works with a willing landowner and
enters into an option to purchase the property. Once the Option is signed, the District completes a survey and an
appraisal of the property. The District then negotiates with the landowner an acceptable offer and executes the
purchase agreement and completes final closing requirements. Property acquisitions include the Owens, Schroeder
and Mud Lake Property.
The Owens acquisition was 45 acres of agricultural ground that was purchased and now includes 2 wetland ponds
of 25 acres with the remaining ground planted into native upland prairie mix. The property will be donated to the
DNR and will be joined into the Upper Twin Lake WMA. The Mud Lake Property was 23 acres in size and will be
permanently protecting mesic hardwood forests and wetlands. This property will be adding to the adjoining
Magaksica WMA that is expanding current habitat corridors. The final acquisition is the Schroeder acquisition at 22
acres in size. This property was in agricultural row crop production and included a portion of untouched
meandering stream. This property now has been planted into natives and is protecting that meandering stream
and the mesic hardwoods that surrounds the stream. Further restoration of the side for wetland restoration is
planned in future funding efforts.
Following restoration and enhancement projects include the Miller Wetland, Wedge Creek Reach 1 Vegetative
restoration and the Pickerel Lake Site #12 Channel Restoration. The Miller wetland project partnered with the
USFWS in which $461,000 in federal match was added to the grant as a result of their Iowa, Chicago & Eastern
WPA acquisition dollars. This wetland restoration turned agricultural ground into upland plantings and wetlands
by disabling field tile and completing wetland scrapes. The project came in under bid, and that is why we have
additional funds to return to the OHF. This project expands current restored parcels and will benefit waterfowl,
pollinators and songbirds.
For the Wedge Creek Reach #1 vegetative restoration the District, following procurement procedures, hired a
contractor to remove invasive species and complete controlled burns on the site. This allows native plants to thrive
in its place and impacts habitat along public waters. The Pickerel Lake Channel Restoration Project improves the
breeding success of native populations by reconnecting historic spawning grounds upstream of Pickerel Lake.
$1,200,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Shell Rock River Watershed District to acquire in fee, restore, and enhance aquatic habitat in the Shell Rock River watershed. A list of proposed acquisitions, restorations, and enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Restored 80 Wetland acres. Protected 27 Habitat acres in Fee with State PILT Liability. Protected 63 Habitat acres in Fee without State PILT Liability. Enhanced 41Habitat acres. Total acreage of 211.
Federal Match & Local Option Sales Tax