DNR St. Louis River Restoration Initiative Ph. 9

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,916,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
DNR; MLT
Recipient Type
State Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2022
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
St. Louis
St. Louis
Project Overview

MNDNR's St. Louis River Restoration Initiative (SLRRI) is a collaborative program enhancing and restoring the St. Louis River estuary. This 12,000 acre estuary is a unique resource of statewide significance. SLRRI's vision for the estuary includes diverse, productive, and healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the river and watershed. Through SLRRI Phase 9 MNDNR and MLT will restore or enhance an additional 90 acres of priority aquatic, wetland, and forested habitat for important fish, game, and SGCN. To date, the OHF has supported approximately 763 acres of SLRRI habitat restoration, leveraging over $22 million in federal funding.

About the Issue

The SLRRI Phase 9 will restore and enhance priority habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. With LOSHC support, SLRRI has successfully developed and implemented critical projects in the estuary since 2014. SLRRI employs a collaborative approach using a network of resource managers, researchers, and key stakeholders. As partners in the SLRRI, the MNDNR and MN Land Trust have effectively and efficiently restored wetland, stream and open water aquatic habitats while leveraging significant federal support.

Minnesota DNR will restore 45 acres and up to 23,300 feet of priority habitats identified in the 2002 Lower St. Louis River Habitat Plan and 2020 St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) Remedial Action Plan (RAP), with an emphasis on the following:

Perch Lake is a shallow sheltered bay that is isolated from the estuary by Minnesota Highway 23. The goal is to restore a hydrologic connection with the estuary and optimize bathymetry to improve water quality, promote diverse aquatic vegetation, and establish recreational boat access.

Mud Lake is a warm water fish and migratory bird habitat restoration project. Mud Lake is an estuarine bay and coastal wetland complex. It is degraded by legacy wood waste and a railroad causeway. The SLRRI team will work in close coordination with the MPCA, USEPA, and the City of Duluth to restore ecological function to support birds and aquatic life.

Kingsbury, Lower Knowlton, and Keene Creeks are trout stream restoration projects. These multi-partnered projects will enhance the creeks' connection to their floodplains, reduce sedimentation, restore trout habitat, remove barriers, and increase resiliency of estuary restoration efforts currently being completed with earlier OHF appropriations.

MN Land Trust will continue restoring avian habitat for globally and regionally important bird guilds in and around the St. Louis River Estuary Important Bird Area (SLR IBA). The current phase of the effort includes restoring or enhancing 50 acres of coastal wetland and forested habitat for birds. Restoration will be conducted in coastal wetlands, wet forests and other important forested habitats. We will work within designated Natural Areas or other protected lands in Duluth. Improvements will restore or enhance habitat conditions to be more attractive to migrating and breeding birds and other native wildlife communities. Proposed work in the forested areas includes underplanting or replanting including areas at risk from emerald ash borer or invasive trees and shrubs. Work in the emergent wetlands includes recreating the historic ratio of water interspersed with emergent vegetation in locations now dominated by invasive species such as narrow-leaf cattail or reed canary grass.

MNDNR and MN Land Trust will continue to closely coordinate with SLRRI partners to integrate, prioritize, and develop additional fish and wildlife restoration projects to improve fish and wildlife populations throughout the estuary and surrounding watersheds. Work on project sites previously identified within the SLRRI program area will continue.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2022, Ch. 77, Art. 1, Sec. 2, subd. 5(q)
Appropriation Language

$4,916,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore and enhance priority aquatic, riparian, and forest habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. Of this amount, up to $964,000 is for an agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. A list of proposed restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.

2023 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,916,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,900,000
Direct expenses
$4,792,500
Administration costs
$123,500
Number of full time equivalents funded
2.3
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - Program monitoring conducted by others will evaluate the response of indicator species at project sites

Source of Additional Funds

GLRI (2 sources)

Project Manager
First Name
Melissa
Last Name
Sjolund
Organization Name
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Street Address
525 Lake Ave S #415
City
Duluth
State
MN
Zip Code
55802
Phone
(218 302-3245
Email
melissa.sjolund@state.mn.us
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency