St. Louis River Restoration Initiative Phase 7
MNDNR's St. Louis River Restoration Initiative (SLRRI) is a collaborative program enhancing and restoring this unique and valuable resource. The SLRRI's vision for the estuary includes diverse, productive, and healthy aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems of the river and watershed. Contributing to this vision, MNDNR works with partners throughout the 12,000-acre estuary to identify and prioritize key projects and implement previously identified projects that restore 35 acres of priority aquatic and riparian habitat. When Phase 7 is complete, approximately 596 acres of habitat will have been restored, using OHF funds to leverage a substantial amount of federal funding.
The St. Louis River Restoration Initiative (SLRRI) and OHF partnership began in 2014 to achieve fish and wildlife habitat restoration in the St. Louis River Estuary (Estuary) that contributes to the delisting of the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). The partnership has effectively and efficiently restored wetland, stream and open water aquatic habitats. This proposal includes projects identified by the 2002 Lower St. Louis River Habitat Plan (Habitat Plan) and the 2013 St. Louis River Remedial Action Plan. When accomplished, these projects will move toward complete implementation of the vision described in the Habitat Plan and will maintain investments already made in the Estuary. Funding for this phase of the SLRRI will be leveraged with Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) funding. The MNDNR will continue to closely coordinate with SLRRI partners to integrate, prioritize, and develop fish and wildlife restoration projects throughout the estuary, building on lessons learned from completed projects. In addition, work on specific project sites within the SLRRI program area for previously identified priority sites will continue. In Phase 7 of the SLRRI, MNDNR will continue to apply its broad partnership to construct 35 acres of restored fish and wildlife habitat.
Mud Lake is a warm water fish and migratory bird restoration project. Mud Lake is an estuarine bay and wetland complex upstream of the US Steel Superfund Site. It is degraded by legacy wood waste and bisected by a railroad causeway. The SLRRI team will work in close coordination with the MPCA, USEPA, and the City of Duluth to address sediment contamination, enhance hydrologic connection, remove legacy wood waste, and restore aquatic ecological function.
Kingsbury and Keene Creeks are trout stream restoration projects. Phase 7 will support Keene Creek design and Kingsbury Creek design and construction to enhance the creeks' connection to their floodplains, reduce sedimentation, restore trout habitat, and increase resiliency of Estuary restoration efforts currently being completed with earlier OHF appropriations.
Lower Knowlton Creek is a trout stream restoration project. The project will produce a design to remove a fish and wildlife migration barrier along recently restored Knowlton Creek between the Estuary and Magney-Snively Forest Complex and restore a natural stream channel.
$2,280,000 the second year is to the commissioner of natural resources to restore priority aquatic and riparian habitats in the St. Louis River estuary. A list of proposed restorations must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan.
Improved availability and improved condition of habitats that have experienced substantial decline - MNDNR evaluates habitat restoration effectiveness using a variety of physical and biologic metrics measured pre- and post-project. Completed restoration associated with the AOC will be measured in acres of habitat restored and evaluated to remove beneficial use impairments and ultimately delist the AOC