Rum River Woodbury House Riverbank Stabilization Project
This project will stabilize 300+ linear feet of eroding Rum Riverbank adjacent to the historic Woodbury House site (1632 Ferry St), less than 1/2 mile upstream of the confluence with the Mississippi River. Eroding riverbanks contribute to the Mississippi River?s TSS impairment, Rum River?s near-listing for nutrients, and degrades aquatic habitat. This project was identified in a 2012 riverbank inventory along 16.2 miles of the Mississippi River. The site has diminished since that inventory and today ranks 8th highest for sediment loading amongst many other identified erosion sites.
Riverbank stabilization will combine an armored toe and vegetated reinforced soil slope. These approaches are complimentary to the Rum River?s state recreational designation and surrounding parklands, while addressing the 35 ft tall slopes.
The project will reduce pollutants by 128 tons of sediment and 128 pounds of phosphorus annually. Other benefits include aquatic life diversity and abundance, and improved drinking water. This project is immediately upstream of the Twin Cities drinking water intakes.
As a secondary benefit, this project helps protect a highly visible historic site. Woodbury House, on the adjacent parcel, was built in 1857 and overlooks the rivers? confluence. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and includes a historic cobblestone trail located immediately above the project site. The city plans separately-funded measures to protect the historic features, but those measures rely on the riverbank first being stabilized.
This project site has exceptional value to the community & is an opportunity to showcase river stewardship. Visible from across the river, there is a city park with replica historic bandshell - the community?s ?Gathering Place.?
The project cost of $1,261,025 will be paid by $252,205 from the City of Anoka and $1,008,820 from Clean Water Funds. The city owns the property & accepts maintenance responsibilities
Annie Felix-Gerth
(Projects and Practices)(b) $10,762,000 the first year and $11,504,000 the second year are for grants to local government units to protect and restore surface water and drinking water; to keep water on the land; to protect, enhance, and restore water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; and to protect groundwater and drinking water, including feedlot water quality and subsurface sewage treatment system projects and stream bank, stream channel, shoreline restoration, and ravine stabilization projects. The projects must use practices demonstrated to be effective, be of long-lasting public benefit, include a match, and be consistent with total maximum daily load (TMDL) implementation plans, watershed restoration and protection strategies (WRAPS), or local water management plans or their equivalents. Up to 20 percent of this appropriation is available for land-treatment projects and practices that benefit drinking water.
This project will stabilize over 300 linear feet of severely eroding priority riverbank on the City of Anoka?s property adjacent to Woodbury House, achieving pollutant reductions of 128 ton/yr sediment & 128 lb/yr phosphorus (from BWSR calculator).
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS