Shell Rock River Watershed Habitat Restoration Program - Phase IV

The Phase IV Habitat Restoration Projects were competed and all objectives and outcomes were met. Specifically
the projects, and the processes and methods to completed them are listed below. The projects in this phase were
successful due to partnering resources with USFWS and MN DNR staff, as well as having supporting landowners
willing to make a difference in Minnesota's natural resources.
For the Wedge Creek Wetland acquisition, the District worked with a willing seller to enter into an option to
purchase agreement. Once signed, the District hired consultants to complete a survey and then an appraisal of the
property. The District then made an offer to the landowner that was accepted and the option to purchase was
executed. This property closed in April of 2019 and protects approximately 20 acres. There is funding in Phase 6 of
the Habitat Restoration Program to complete the wetland restoration work of the property before it is turned over
to the DNR for ownership.
The Wedge Creek Reach 6 River Restoration completed approximately 3,000 linear feet of streambank restoration
work that included boulder retards, rock weirs, vortex weirs, sloped and seeded banks which created retention
areas and scouring pools for habitat in public waters. The District worked with an engineering firm to design the
project and sourced a contractor following state procurement procedures.
For the Upper Twin Lake pumping station the District worked with the USFWS and MN DNR via a Memorandum of
Understanding to complete the project. The work included installing a pumping feature to dewater the 550 acre
Upper Twin Lake into Lower Twin Lake to allow for lake management following the lake management plan.
Dewatering of the lake allows for carp and vegetation management to improve game fish populations and
waterfowl habitat. The District followed procurement procedures for construction of the project and it was
completed in 2020.
The Upper and Lower Twin Lake project again worked with the MN DNR to compete projects on public lands and
public waters. Both Upper and Lower Twin lakes are shallow lakes infested with Common Carp. The District
worked to install a rock fish barrier to prevent carp from entering the 895 acres of the Twin Lakes system. As part
of this project, the District also worked on a streambank downstream and completed approximately 7,500 linear
feet of restoration. Work included installing rootwads, cross channel logs, toe rock installation and connecting
historic floodplains.
The last project in the Phase 4 Habitat Restoration Program was the Pickerel Lake Adjustable Outlet. This project
partnered with MN DNR to incorporate a fish passage and variable crest structure to allow for management of 570
acres of Pickerel Lake and allow Northern Pike to reenter the lake for spawning.