St. Louis River Restoration Initiative, Ph. V
MNDNR’s St. Louis River Restoration Initiative (SLRRI) applies a collaborative approach to restore sites impacted by legacy habitat alterations of wood waste, wetland loss and sedimentation to establish ecologically resilient aquatic and riparian fish and wildlife habitat that will establish the St. Louis River Estuary as a premier fishing and outdoor recreation destination. MNDNR will restore 181 acres of priority aquatic and riparian habitat at multiple sites in the lower St. Louis River in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust. Upon completion, approximately 732 acres of habitat will have been restored as a result of OHF’s participation.
MNDNR continues its collaboration with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota Land Trust (MLT) and other agencies to develop and construct projects that will restore aquatic habitat in the Estuary. MNDNR has been actively involved in assessment and planning for restoration and recovery of the St. Louis River Estuary since the early 1980’s. The SLRRI was established by MNDNR in 2010 to accelerate implementation of the Lower St. Louis River Remedial Action Plan (RAP) and delisting of the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) by combining the resources of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) and Minnesota Legacy Amendment. While the AOC is scheduled for delisting in 2025, other estuary projects listed in the RAP will be advanced through the SLRRI's Federal/State partnership.Past support from the OHF has been applied to several projects critical to restoring estuary fish and wildlife habitat including: (551 acres of restoration completed or in progress)Phase 5 of the SLRRI continues implementation of the SLRRI with restoration of an additional 36 acres of aquatic and shoreline habitat. MLT will be directly appropriated funds from ML2017 and ML2018 to advance elements of project design and construction in partnership with MNDNR. The top priority for allocating funds from this appropriation is Perch Lake. The other projects identified in the proposal are also priorities for the SLRRI and are being advanced through developed partnerships and processes. Therefore, funds from this allocation will also be applied to support efforts of SLRRI staff to move these project toward construction.Proposed projects include:•Perch Lake – A sheltered bay that was isolated from the river by construction of Minnesota Highway 23. This project would enhance the hydrologic connection with the estuary to improve water quality and fish habitat. •Mud Lake – A sheltered bay impacted by legacy wood waste and bisected by a railroad causeway. This partner driven project would integrate with a MPCA lead remedial project and a City of Duluth project to restore shallow estuary wetland habitat. •Kingsbury Creek – Degraded cold-water trout stream that drains to Kingsbury Bay. This project would reduce sedimentation, improve trout habitat and protect wetland restoration gains realized in the Kingsbury Bay/Grassy Point Project.•Keene Creek – Degraded cold-water trout streams that drains to Grassy Point. This partner driven restoration will enhance the creek’s connection to its floodplain, reduce sedimentation, restore trout habitat, and increase resiliency of the Grassy Point Project, also funded with earlier OHF appropriations. •Grassy Point – Potential necessary work in Keene Creek wetlands and other shorelines not completed with funds available from previous appropriations. •Wild Rice – Additional funds are being requested to advance the broad partnership (MNDNR, WDNR, MLT, Fond du Lac, 1854 Treaty Authority and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission) restoring estuary wild rice. •Munger Trail Causeway – A fish and wildlife migration barrier along recently restored Knowlton Creek between the estuary and Magney-Snively Forest Complex. Proposed work will remove the causeway and restore a natural stream channel.
$2,013,000 the second year is to the commissioner
of natural resources to restore aquatic habitats
in the St. Louis River estuary. Of this
appropriation, up to $1,350,000 is for an
agreement with Minnesota Land Trust. 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 - The construction contractor will be required to produce as-built measurements to verify that the contracted design for the projects were built as designed or modified as a result of direct in the field oversight of construction.
Once the projects are satisfactorily constructed, the MNDNR will work in partnership with the MLT, USEPA, the MPCA and other AOC partners to conduct biological sampling intended to monitor the outcome of these and all other AOC projects. Some of projects were not funded by the OHF, but will be monitored as part of this broader program..