Roseau Lake Rehabilitation: Phase II

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,054,000
Fund Source
Outdoor Heritage Fund
Recipient
Roseau River WD
Recipient Type
Local/Regional Government
Status
In Progress
Start Date
July 2024
End Date
January 1970
Activity Type
Restoration/Enhancement
Counties Affected
Roseau
Roseau
Project Overview

This multi-purpose project will partially restore a large drained lake, restore and reclaim stream reaches, provide water level management capacity to substantially improve wildlife habitat conditions and provide flood damage reduction benefits, and will contribute to water quality improvements in the Roseau River.

About the Issue

Roseau Lake was drained in the early 1900s when the Roseau River was channelized and dredged and associated ditch systems were constructed to increase agricultural production in the watershed. Prior to drainage, Roseau Lake provided excellent fish and waterfowl habitat. After drainage, much of the lake basin was farmed for many years and produced crops in drier times, but production was low and unreliable in wetter years. Over time, there has been recognition by local landowners that farming the lake bed would always be tenuous and large portions of the lake basin became part of the Roseau Lake Wildlife Management Area in the 1960s. Interest in a partial restoration of the lake has grown in recent year because the DNR, the watershed district, local governments, and citizens recognize that there are opportunities to develop a multipurpose project with significant wildlife habitat and flood damage reduction benefits.

The project has two primary design purposes:

1) To improve the quantity and quality of fish and wildlife habitat in and surrounding the Roseau Lake basin area. A key objective of the project is to provide migratory habitat (including an abundance of forage) for waterfowl and shorebirds in spring and in fall.

2) To effectively use the water storage capacity of the lake basin to reduce peak flows on the Roseau River downstream of the lakebed by 10% or more compared to current conditions as well as reduce the footprint of the 100-year floodplain.

The scope of work for this funding is to construct 7.5 miles of embankment, inlet control structure and channel, and outlet structure.

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

$3,054,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with the Roseau River Watershed District to restore and enhance the Roseau Lake and Roseau River habitat complex in Roseau County, Minnesota.

2025 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$3,054,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$763,500
Direct expenses
$3,054,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
None
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Improved availability and improved condition of habitats that have experienced substantial decline - The site will be monitored through a joint 5 year monitoring plan between the RRWD and DNR. Monitoring will include an evaluation of bird species use; plant community condition; water quality; water quantity as measured against project outcomes and current conditions.
Water is kept on the land - Water levels within the basin will be monitored weekly during spring through fall by MN DNR personnel to ensure that water elevation targets are met for shallow lake habitat management. Such water levels are designated in the operating plan for the project, which was agreed to by the project partners (MN DNR and the RRWD)

Source of Additional Funds

Local funds

Project Manager
First Name
Tracy
Last Name
Halstensgard
Organization Name
Roseau River Watershed District
Street Address
714 6th Street SW
City
Roseau
State
MN
Zip Code
56751
Phone
218-463-0313
Email
rrwd@mncable.net
Administered By
Administered by
Location

500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155

Phone
651-296-6157
Email the Agency