Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation-PH VII

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,572,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
LSSA with ARDC
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2024
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Lake
St. Louis
Lake
St. Louis
Project Overview

Historic flooding led to severe habitat degradation throughout the Knife River watershed. Including miles of slumping streambanks, thousands of tons of sediment discharge, turbidity measurements exceeding the MPCA's TMDL and loss of instream trout habitat. DNR has documented a 200% increase in adult steelhead population, two miles of restored stream channel, 10,000 feet of stabilized streambanks and annual reduction of sediment discharge by 1,000 tons due to our projects. This seventh project will stabilize over 4,500 feet of slumping streambanks and improve both riparian and instream habitats.

About the Issue

The LSSA uses a Watershed Restoration Approach to determine the rehabilitation, enhancement and restoration scope of work. This Approach looks at how landscape parameters affect the river's stability and identifies what the underlying issues are that cause the watershed impacts during a flood event. Habitat rehabilitation projects utilize Natural Channel Design (NCD) parameters. By focusing on the Watershed as a whole and working to fix the root cause, the stream and the immediate riparian zones are much healthier and robust for decades to come, benefitting all trout populations and instream invertebrates.

Our Knife River rehabilitation success has not just restored the watershed parameters but has also translated to an increase in the adult steelhead. From 2012 (the inception of our first grant) to 2021 the population of wild steelhead has increased in the Knife River by 200%. This 200% increase has occurred at a time, when other notable Lake Superior tributaries have observed steelhead populations decrease or crash. Two of the most prominent Lake Superior tributaries the Brule River and Portage Creek both saw their adult steelhead returns noticeably decline. The Brule River steelhead population decreased 4.5% from its 30 year average and Portage Creek steelhead population decreased 201% from its 20 year average.

Another feature we utilize on every rehabilitation project, is a prioritization system to identify specific restoration reaches. Our policy is to work from an upstream to downstream manner. This top-down restoration approach eliminates re-impacting previously restored stream sections and reduces downstream flooding and sedimentation because water and sediments are deposited and held on the newly constructed upstream floodplains. Our reach prioritization also utilizes existing agency studies, such as the MPCA's TMDL to identify erosion areas. These erosion areas are combined with our cool water temperature assessments and annual trout spawning survey to ensure we restore the most critical stream reaches.

Finally, we engage Stakeholders in the final reach selection process. The LSSA has collaborated with the DNR for eleven years to identify key trout habitat sites within the Knife River watershed and discuss key sites proposed for restoration. By utilizing this prioritization approach, we ultimately invest grant funds in the most efficient manner possible.

NOTE: The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) has agreed to work with the LSSA as fiscal manager going forward. Please see note in ATTACHMENTS.

The Scope of Work for the Reach 15 project will include:
-Assess, survey and design the stream reach(s) to obtain permits.
-Obtain baseline and as-built assessment and survey data.
-Restore the stream channel's shape, dimension and profile.
-Enhance riparian and instream trout habitat.
-Create new floodplain wetlands.
-Reconnect the river channel to the floodplain.
-Raise the groundwater table.
-Stabilize streambanks.
-Rehabilitate the riparian tree canopy.
-Monitor water temperature.

Legal Citation / Subdivision
ML 2024, Ch. 106, Art. 1, Sec. 2, Subd. 5(s)
Appropriation Language

$1,572,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, in cooperation with the Lake Superior Steelhead Association, to restore and enhance trout habitat in the Knife River watershed. If the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission declines to serve as the fiscal agent for the project, an alternative fiscal agent must be identified in the accomplishment plan for the project.

2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$1,572,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$423,500
Direct expenses
$1,572,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Healthy populations of endangered, threatened, and special concern species as well as more common species - By funding this project, anadromous trout (steelhead, coaster brook trout and brown trout) and resident stream trout (brook trout) populations should increase. Population increases will be seen by MNDNR during the weir operation and upstream population assessment work. This project will also provide habitat to invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. This project also will replant the riparian zone of the river with native, old growth tree species and various native shrubs and native pollinator flower species. These multiple specie plantings will establish a varied and lush riparian zone benefitting the entire watershed and neighboring areas for decades to come

Source of Additional Funds

DNR, Private, Private, LSSA, Private, LSSA Volunteer and Private-Other

Project Manager
First Name
Blake
Last Name
Francis
Organization Name
Rajala Woods Foundation (RWF), Lake Superior Steelhead Association (LSSA);
Street Address
30 West Superior Street (RWF) P. O. Box 16034 (LSSA)
City
Duluth (Both)
State
MN
Zip Code
55802 (RWF), 55816 (LSSA)
Phone
218/391-2487(RWF),218/269-7427(LSSA),
Email
blakeafrancis@gmail.com (RWF), outriderduluth@msn.com (LSSA)
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency