DNR's St. Louis River Restoration Initiative (SLRRI) advanced multiple large-scale habitat restoration projects. ML2017 funds contributed to:
-Removing 300,000 CY of invasive vegetation, sediment, and sawmill waste from the waters of Kingsbury Bay and Grassy Point, restoring approximately 230 acres of coastal marsh habitat;
-Restoring five acres of habitat at Interstate Island for a threatened avian species by beneficially using over 52,000 CY of clean sand dredged from navigation channels;
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to carry out the Total Maximum Daily Load Program (TMDL) in the state of Minnesota. Minnesota has an abundance of lakes and river reaches, many of which will require a TMDL study. In an effort to expedite the completion of TMDL projects, the MPCA constructs watershed models. These models support the development of TMDL studies for multiple listings within a watershed. In 2017 the Lake of the Woods (LOW) watershed HSPF model was extended through 2014.
This Sauk River Watershed District project will conduct the Whitney Park river clean-up, adopt a river program and other community events as part of their healthy living programs; will collaborate with the city of St. Cloud to install a rain garden demonstration site at Whitney Park; use local radio and public television stations to promote the District’s “neighborhood rain garden initiative” and other incentive programs.
Radio Tower Bay: 115,000 cubic yards of wood material was removed to increase water depth, provide greater habitat diversity, promote native aquatic vegetation and increase recreational access.Knowlton Creek: 6,500 linear feet of degraded stream was restored by reshaping and creating new stream channels; constructing instream structures; and native planting and seeding to stabilize the stream and minimize sediment into the Estuary.21st Ave W/Interstate Island: Restored 2 acres of critical nesting habitat for the Common Tern and Piping Plover.Wild Rice: Restored 133 acres of wild rice in the
To hire qualified professionals to repair the storefront of the Lyric Building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and home of Laurentian Arts and Culture Alliance.
To stop the water infiltration that was causing damage to the building, bricks and tuck-pointing were removed and replaced in two areas of external wall at the back and side of the Lyric Theater building.
The damaged areas have now been stabilized and further erosion curtailed. Renovation of the rest of the building can now continue.
Leveraging new statewide climate data, we will assess future change in the duration, frequency and magnitude of heavy precipitation and drought events and engage communities to prepare for these extremes.
