Burnham Creek Watershed Restoration Project, Phase I

The Red Lake River is impaired for turbidity. It is also the drinking water source for residents living in East Grand Forks. Burnham Creek is a tributary to the Red Lake River and its watershed is well known for its intensive agriculture, flat topography and frequent flooding. Over the last 20 years, head cutting of the bottom of the channel has led to bank failures, flow restrictions, sedimentation and constriction of fish passage. Soil loss from this is approximately 117 tons per year. This loss is adding to the existing poor water quality in Red Lake River while also reducing flows, causing crop loss and localizing flooding which is damaging roads and inhibiting fish/wildlife habitat.
The Burnham Creek Watershed Restoration Project consists of three phases. Phase I will concentrate on a portion of the upper end of the Burnham Creek Channel by the installation rock weirs. Phase II will conduct a technical and needs assessment on the lower region of the Burnham Creek Channel. Phase III provides installation of practices identified in Phase II.
Phase I consists of eight rock weirs that will be placed at the optimum locations to flatten out and stabilize the grade, channel stabilization, create a natural diversion, create pool habitat/cover, and improve fish passage.