All Projects

This project is for Minnesota Legislative Clean Water Fund funding to engage citizens in local watershed monitoring, to work with regional partners to promote understanding and protection of watersheds, and to organize and facilitate gathering of scientific data all for the benefit of water quality in the Red River Basin.

The International Water Institute (IWI) will monitor 42 sites (3 basin, 12 major watershed, and 27 subwatershed) in the Red River and Upper Mississippi River Basins intensively during the contract period. There will also be 5 sites in the Red River Basin where mercury samples will be collected and sent to Minnesota Department of Health for analysis. The IWI will collect water samples across the range of flow conditions targeting sample collection at times of moderate to high flow.

The goal of this project is to collect real-time, parameter data for specific conductance, water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and stream flow at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) gaging stations located at Fargo and Grand Forks, ND on the Red River of the North. The data will be published on the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS) website.

The goal of this project is to extend, calibrate, and validate the existing Hydrological Simulation Program – FORTRAN (HSPF) watershed models in the Red Lake River, Thief River, Clearwater River and Red Lake watersheds.

This project is planned in the Skunk Creek subwatershed, which empties into the turbidity impaired Nemadji River. The goal of the project will restore the stream and stabilize the bank where a 30 year old sediment retention structure failed, releasing sediment into the Nemadji Watershed. In addition, remaining structures within the watershed will be prioritized and a discussion between land owners and permitting organizations will be initiated. This project will prevent an estimated 80 tons of sediment from annually entering into the Nemadji River.

The purpose of the project is to reduce the amount of sediment entering Burnham Creek, which is a tributary of the Red Lake River within the Red River Basin. The Red Lake River is classified as a source water protection area for the City of East Grand Forks and currently does not meet state water quality standards for sediment. The goal of this project is to install one grade stabilization structure within the channel which outlets into the Burnham Creek channel and two side water inlets with buffers.

To hire a qualified museum lighting professional to develop a museum lighting plan.

Redevelop roadway, parking lots and trails, building enhancements, maintenance facility improvements, boat launch improvements, disc golf installation, natural resource restoration, signs, site furnishings, utilities, fees and contingencies.

Supplement design and construction cost for the redevelopment of the existing playground in the Upper Afton section of Battle Creek Regional Park consisting of demolition, grading, utilities, trails, lighting, construction, landscaping, site amenities, signage, new playground container and playground equipment, and safety surfacing The plan is to improve accessibility and play value.

The Redwood River watershed is one of the last remaining watersheds to complete Cycle I of the Watershed Restoration & Protections Strategies (WRAPS) process. The scope of this project upon completion is have two reports developed; a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies report and a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the entire watershed.

In 2017 and 2018, Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) will collect water chemistry samples from the 10 lakes and 24 stream sites identified in the Redwood and Cottonwood River watersheds. Six samples will be collected at 10 lakes from May through September in 2017; five samples will be collected at 5 lakes in 2018 from May through September. Eleven samples will be collected at each of the 24 stream sites following the Basic Regime in 2017. Sixteen samples at each stream site will be collected in 2017 and 2018 following the E.coli monitoring regime.

Rehabilitate trail infrastructure, including paving, lighting, and signage, and improve and enhance aquatic facilities.

Design, engineer, & construct rehabilitation projects associated with existing trails, bridges, habitat enhancement, stormwater management and water quality infrastructure, and signage. Exact project extents and tasks will be refined during project scoping and included in the project's grant agreement.

Rehabilitation Construction of 3 acres of paved parking and 0.9 miles of paved roads, and associated infrastructure within Hyland Park Reserve.

To provide better organization of the archival materials, allowing for greater public access to the community's historic resources.

To provide appropriate storage materials for museum collections.

To improve collections care and management through proper storage.

This program funds rehabilitation and renewal of buildings and other recreational facilities in Minnesota State Parks and Recreation Areas.

Renewal of existing State Trail surfaces, parking areas, and trail wayside areas, improving accessibility, enhancing user safety and implementing current best management practices. MNDNR Parks and Trails Division has a identified approximately 85 miles of existing state trail in need of rehabilitation and upgrading. This program also focuses on the rehabilitation or replacement of existing state trail bridges, including structural engineering inspections of all trail bridges .

Construction of stormwater harvest system to complete the re-introduction of the creek as a stormwater feature and recreational amenity for trail users. This is the final phase of providing healthy stream system along the trail. The creek will provide an enhanced connection between people, development and stormwater with open water, habitat, cleaner water at the outlet and a focus for the resting spots along the trail within the former brownfield site.

To hire a qualified conservator to restore a significant object in the museum's collections.

To hire qualified professionals to rebuild the chancel wall in the Episcopal Church of the Good Samaritan, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

To digitize issues of the student newspaper, "The Reporter," allowing for greater public access to this historic resource.

To hire a qualified historian to research Mankato's cultural history.

To research the history of the Honeywell Ring Laser Gyro, in preparation for a future manuscript.

To conduct research on the 21st century African American community in Minnesota.

To hire a qualified historian to research the history of special education teachers in Minnesota.

To restore the 1935 floor of the Litchfield Opera House as close as realistically possible to its original condition: with a finished and safe surface for public and catered events.

To provide better organization of library materials, allowing for greater public access to the community's historic resources.

To hire qualified professionals to produce materials on the Ojibwe language for public access.

To hire qualified professionals to repair and restore windows in the Universal Laboratories Building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.