Knife River Habitat Rehabilitation-Phase V
Eroding streambanks in the Knife River Watershed have degraded trout habitat and resulted in a total maximum daily load (TMDL) exceedance for turbidity. The LSSA proposes to rehabilitate instream habitat to increase trout spawning and rearing. Natural Channel Design construction techniques will be utilized to create a self-sustaining project that enhances instream habitat, improves channel stability, facilitates sediment transportation, stabilizes eroding streambanks, creates riparian wetlands and replant riparian trees/pollinator shrubs. This project will only be performed on public land or private land within a DNR easement. For more project information, please visit our website: www.steelheaders.org/projects.
Problem Addressed:
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) performed a water quality study from 1986-1996 on the Knife River. This water quality study determined that the Knife River exceeded the TMDL for turbidity. The MPCA conducted a follow-up study in 2008 to determine the sources of this turbidity. This study determined that the sources of the TMDL turbidity exceedance was primarily due to erosion from streambanks and stream bluffs. The LSSA assessed these identified erosion areas in the watershed (see illustration) to determine if the habitat remained suitable for trout. The LSSA found that summertime streamflow and water temperatures were sufficient for trout growth, but instream habitat was degraded from sediment deposition.
The LSSA and DNR have concluded that adult trout spawning and juvenile trout rearing habitat could be significantly improved by rehabilitating this stream reach. This project will provide an added secondary benefit to water quality by reducing sediment discharge. By stabilizing these banks this project will be contributing to reducing the Knife River's elevated Turbidity levels.
Scope of Work:
?Restore the stream channel's shape, dimension and profile.
?Enhance instream trout habitat strategically positioning large woody debris, rock vanes and ?J? hooks into the channel.
?Restore large woody debris back into the watershed.
?Create new floodplains wetlands.
?Remove flood debris/sediment from floodplain wetlands.
?Reconnect the river channel to the floodplain.
?Raise the groundwater table.
?Stabilize streambanks.
?Rehabilitate the riparian overhead tree canopy.
?Monitor water temperature and stream assessment.
How Priorities Were Set:
The MPCA identified erosion areas within the Knife River Watershed and determined sections of Reach 4 contributed to the overall TMDL exceedance for Turbidity. The LSSA also conducted a series of stream assessments to identify adequate streamflow and cool water temperatures to support trout growth. Biological data was collected to determine the quality of in-stream trout habitat. This data was combined and ranked to prioritize restoration areas that provide the best benefit to aquatic life and water quality in the Knife River Watershed.
Another major consideration in the prioritization of this stream reach is its upstream location. Our restoration goal is to utilize a top-down approach, so major upstream erosion does not re-impact the restoration project and floodwaters can be retained to minimize existing downstream impacts. So, this top/down approach not only rehabilitates a degraded upstream reach but also minimizes downstream impacts.
Urgency and Opportunity of the Project:
The upper section of Reach 4 is scheduled for construction during the summer of 2019 and the middle section of Reach 4 was awarded last year (2108) and construction is anticipated to begin the fall of 2019. This Lower Reach 4 project will restore the remaining 4,000+ linear feet of Reach 4. If this project is funded, construction will begin in the fall of 2020.
Stakeholder Involvement:
The LSSA has collaborated with Jeff Tillma, DNR Stream Specialist and Deserae Hendrickson, DNR Fisheries Supervisor for the past three years on the Reach 4 restoration project and have implemented several of the DNR's project recommendations.
$700,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Zeitgeist, a nonprofit corporation, in cooperation with the Lake Superior Steelhead Association, to restore and enhance trout habitat in the Knife River watershed. A list of proposed enhancements must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
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. 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 pollinator shrubs and native flower species. These multiple specie plantings will establish a varied and lush riparian canopy benefitting the entire watershed and neighboring areas
MN DNR, Private Source: LSSA, Private Source: ZG and LSSA and Privte Source: LSSA