Lower Otter Tail River Corridor Habitat Restoration - Request 1

The channelization of rivers and streams in the Red River basin has destroyed hundreds of miles of aquatic habitat and eliminated thousands of acres of riparian forest, wetland, and prairie. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) channelized the Lower Otter Tail River in the early 1950's to improve drainage and provide flood control. The channelized reach of the Otter Tail River currently provides little functional aquatic or riparian corridor habitat and reduces connectivity between the lower 10 miles of the river and the upper 13 miles. The vision for the project includes establishment of a 600-foot to 1/2-mile-wide protected corridor along the river channel, setting back existing spoil banks, reconnecting oxbows, construction of a natural meandering river channel, and restoration of riparian wetland and prairie plant communities. The project will restore degraded habitat and reestablish natural levels of connectivity between the river and its floodplain. The Otter Tail River is currently designated as a MN State Water Trail. Outdoor recreation will benefit from the restoration by expanding opportunities to enjoy wildlife through improved kayaking and canoeing along the river.

The Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) began development of this project in 2015 by initiating conversations with other Local Government Units, and the MN Department of Natural Resources. In 2016, the BRRWD was the recipient of Section 319 grant funding through the MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), and Clean Water Fund grant funding through the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). These grant funds allowed for survey work and the development of a detailed concept plan for river restoration. Concurrent with those efforts, the BRRWD began discussions with the USACE. This led to partnering with the USACE on a Section 1135 feasibility evaluation, and further refinement of the river restoration and setback levees alignment proposed in future phases of the project. Potentially the USACE can bring $10 million to restore portions of the Otter Tail River affected by their 1950's straightening work. The 1135 program leaves the responsibility for land rights to project proposers which is the reason for this application.

The partnership between the BRRWD and BWSR will use the Reinvest In Minnesota (RIM) Program to secure, maintain, and monitor easements within the corridor. Since this is a large project, the river has been divided into Reaches A to C (attached illustration). This funding request will target acquisition to Reach A of the corridor. While land acquisition will be targeted to Reach A, other opportunities to protect lands within or adjacent to the main corridor (A-C) will also be considered. A total of approximately 410 acres of land is targeted for acquisition with this proposal. Once acquisition is complete, future channel rehabilitation/restoration phases of the project will be completed with the assistance of MN DNR and USACE. The BRRWD will be the local sponsor responsible for final design, engineering, and construction of the project. BRRWD has developed marketing materials to utilize in soliciting applications when the 2021 funds become available in July.