Cold Water River and Stream Restoration, Protection, and Enhancement, Phase II
This program will restore and/or enhance in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in six coldwater streams located in existing Aquatic Management Areas and one Minnesota State Park. The proposed projects will improve habitat for both game and non-game fish and wildlife species uniquely associated with coldwater trout streams and provide expanded recreational opportunities for Minnesota anglers.
Seriously degraded coldwater habitat is an important statewide conservation issue requiring immediate investment through habitat restoration and enhancement projects. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council has declared the restoration and enhancement of coldwater fish habitat a priority action in the L-SOHC Sections in which these projects are located. As part of our ongoing program of trout and salmon habitat restoration and enhancement, the Minnesota Council of Trout Unlimited (?MNTU?) has identified several priority projects for Fiscal Year 2011 funding. MNTU proposes to directly restore or enhance in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along the following Minnesota waters (counties) between July 2010 and June 2012:1. Hay Creek (Goodhue);2. Lost Creek (Fillmore);3. North Branch of Whitewater River (Wabasha);4. Pine Creek (Winona);5. Vermillion River (Dakota);6. West Indian Creek (Wabasha)
Five of the projects will restore or enhance habitat on existing state-owned Aquatic Management Areas. The sixth project will restore or enhance habitat on state-owned land within Carly State Park.
These projects will employ the same successful strategy used in the projects done by MNTU chapters and the MNDNR in the past several years. Each project involves the installation of in-stream fish habitat structures, in addition to measures which reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, and reconnect streams to their flood plains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding. The specific fish habitat restoration or enhancement methods used on each stream will vary depending upon the distinct natural resource characteristics of each ecological region, as well as variations in the type and magnitude of poor land uses practices within each watersheds. Each project will be tailored to the site after close consultation with resource professionals within the Minnesota DNR. The projects to be undertaken by MNTU will be designed to accomplish a number of the following purposes: a) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, b) reconnect streams to their flood plains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding, c) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms, d) maintain or increase adult trout abundance, e) increase biodiversity for both in-stream and non-game species, f) be long lasting with minimal maintenance required, and g) improve angler access. Additional project descriptions can be found in MNTU's Request for Funding dated November 2, 2009.
Project partners include the MNDNR, Carly State park, Plainview Lions Club, Pheasants Forever, and Minnesota citizens. The MNDNR is a key partner on every project MNTU does, from identifying priority projects for MNTU to consider, to offering professional input on project design, providing permitting review and project support. Depending upon the project they may contribute materials, labor and/or some supervision.
The project proposed for the North Branch of the Whitewater River involves partnerships with both Carley State Park and the Plainview Lions Club. The Park will provide technical support and the Lions Club will provide volunteers and a cash contribution. On the Vermillion River, Pheasants Forever will partner on the upland portion of the parcel.
We anticipate strong support from local communities, local businesses, community clubs, sporting groups, anglers, the MNDNR and the general public. We do not anticipate any opposition to the projects or impediments to successfully achieving the intended habitat outcomes.
Restoration and enhancement are used interchangeably throughout this document as the precise dividing line between them is not always clear.
Acreage calculations are based upon 16 acres per mile.
Seriously degraded coldwater habitat is an important statewide conservation issue requiring immediate investment through habitat restoration and enhancement projects. The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council identified the restoration and enhancement of coldwater fish habitat a priority action in the L-SOHC Sections in which these projects are located. As part of our ongoing program of trout and salmon habitat restoration and enhancement, Minnesota Trout Unlimited (“MNTU”) has identified several priority projects for Fiscal Year 2011 funding. MNTU directly restored or enhanced in-stream and riparian fish and wildlife habitat in and along these Minnesota waters (counties), all of which are in existing state-owned Aquatic Management Areas:
1. Hay Creek (Goodhue);
2. Lost Creek (Fillmore);
3. Pine Creek, reach 1 (Winona);
4. Pine Creek, reach 2 (Winona);
5. Vermilion River (Dakota);
6. West Indian Creek (Wabasha).
Another project, on the North Branch of the Whitewater River, was designed but implementation postponed by DNR Parks so it can rework the design to make the site appear more closely like pre European settlement conditions. Rather than delay the expenditure of OHF funds on the ground, remaining funds budgeted for construction were used to enhance another reach of Pine Creek. This 1,800 foot long reach of enhanced habitat on Pine Creek will support greater numbers of adult trout and likely receive far heavier use than Whitewater River reach would have.
These projects employed the same successful strategy used in the projects done by MNTU chapters and the MNDNR in the past decade. Each project involved the installation of in-stream fish habitat structures, in addition to measures which have reduced stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, and reconnected streams to their flood plains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding. The specific fish habitat restoration or enhancement methods used on each stream varied slightly depending upon the distinct natural resource characteristics of each ecological region, as well as variations in the type and magnitude of poor land uses practices within each watershed. Each project was tailored to the site after close consultation with resource professionals within the Minnesota DNR. The projects were designed and implemented to accomplish a number of these purposes: a) reduce stream bank erosion and associated sedimentation, b) reconnect streams to their flood plains to reduce negative impacts from severe flooding, c) increase natural reproduction of trout and other aquatic organisms, d) maintain or increase adult trout abundance, e) increase biodiversity for both in-stream and non-game species, f) be long lasting with minimal maintenance required, and g) improve angler access.
Project partners included the MNDNR, Pheasants Forever, and Minnesota citizens. The MNDNR was a key partner on every project, helping to identifying priority project sites, offering professional input on designs, providing permitting review, and other support. Dedicated members of Pheasants Forever accomplished an excellent prairie restoration on the upland areas of the Vermilion River site.
We encountered strong support from local communities, local businesses, community clubs, sporting groups, anglers, the MNDNR and the general public.
$1,269,000 in fiscal year 2011 is to the commissioner of natural resources for an agreement with Trout Unlimited to restore, enhance, and protect cold water river and stream habitats in Minnesota. A list of proposed acquisitions and a list of proposed projects, describing the types and locations of restorations and enhancements, must be provided as part of the required accomplishment plan. The commissioner of natural resources must agree in writing to each proposed acquisition, restoration, and enhancement. All restorations must comply with subdivision 9, paragraph (b).
Improved aquatic habitat indicators
Improved aquatic habitat indicator
Restored 22 acres of prairie; Restored and Enhanced habitat along 4.4 miles of trout stream, approximately 52 acres of riparian corridor.