Seminary Fen Ravine C-2 Restoration
Seminary Fen, a 600-acre complex in Carver County, supports one of only 500 calcareous fens in the world and is one of the highest quality calcareous fens in southern Minnesota. Given this fact, and the fact that it supports dozens of rare, threatened, and special concern plant and animal species, it has been characterized as one of the most significant natural areas in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and is part of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Scientific and Natural Areas program. The fen feeds Assumption Creek, one of the metro area's last known trout streams that supports naturally-reproducing native brook trout. Assumption Creek discharges to the nearby Minnesota River. The fen's unique hydrology, soils, plants, and habitats are highly sensitive to water quality and sedimentation stress.
The City of Chaska completed the C-1 Ravine Stabilization Project in 2016 with funding partners including the Board of Water and Soil Resources, Carver County Watershed Management Organization, Department of Natural Resources, and Lower Minnesota Watershed District (Figure 2). The C-1 Ravine project was estimated to reduce yearly sediment loads by 1,680 tons per year to Seminary Fen. The C-2 Ravine is the 2nd most severely eroded ravine along Seminary Fen, and the proposed improvements to C-2 are estimated to reduce sediment loads by 322 tons per year and phosphorus loads by 370 pounds per year. The sediment plume from C-2 is estimated to have expanded into 2.0 acres of Seminary Fen at the end of the ravine with depths between 2 feet and 5 feet.
Annie Felix-Gerth
(a) $39,500,000 the first year and $39,500,000 the second year are for grants to implement state-approved watershed-based plans. The grants may be used to implement projects or programs that protect, enhance, and restore surface PreviouswaterNext quality in lakes, rivers, and streams; protect groundwater from degradation; and protect drinking PreviouswaterNext sources. Projects must be identified in a comprehensive watershed plan developed under the One Watershed, One Plan program and seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext management frameworks as provided for in Minnesota Statutes, chapters 103B, 103C, 103D, and 114D. Grant recipients must identify a nonstate match and may use other legacy funds to supplement projects funded under this paragraph. This appropriation may be used for: (1) implementing state-approved plans, including within the following watershed planning areas (see Chapter 40 Article 2 Section 6(a) (2) for the list of watershed planning areas: seven-county metropolitan groundwater or surface PreviouswaterNext management frameworks; and(3) other comprehensive watershed management plan planning areas that have a board-approved and local-government-adopted plan as authorized in Minnesota Statutes, section 103B.801. The board must establish eligibility criteria and determine whether a planning area is ready to proceed and has the nonstate match committed.
Once completed, the Seminary Fen Ravine C-2 stabilization project will reduce the sediment discharge to the Seminary Fen wetland complex by an estimated 322 tons per year and total phosphorus by 370 pounds per year. Seminary Fen supports dozens of rare, threatened, and special concern animal and plant species that are sensitive to sedimentation stress, so a reduction of sediment is critical to maintaining the unique characteristics of this wetland.
LOCAL LEVERAGED FUNDS