Streambank & Shoreland Stabilization in the Clearwater River Watershed

Erosion from streambanks and fields along the Clearwater River add sediment, nutrients and organic material to this important tributary of the Red River of the North. Turbidity impairments caused by those sediments contribute to several environmental and economic problems including interfering with spawning habitat critical to Lake Sturgeon recovery in the Red River Watershed and increasing drinking water treatment costs for the city of East Grand Forks.
The Red Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District conducted an Erosion Site Inventory during the winter of 2009 and identified 17 stretches of streambank in the Clearwater River watershed.
The current project site is a high priority streambank restoration project located in Red Lake Falls and is one of several severe erosion sites identified along this stretch of the river. Without the addition of Clean Water Funding, the owners of this site, although willing to do their part, could not afford the engineering and construction costs to stabilize this site for long term benefits. Stopping the erosion at this site will eliminate about 300 tons of sediment from entering the river each year.
There are downstream water quality benefits resulting from installation of this project. The river immediately downstream of this site contains a scour hole where the Department of Natural Resources currently stocks Lake Sturgeon fry as part of the watershed-wide sturgeon recovery program. Keeping sediment out of the river at this location will help ensure that those fish have an opportunity to spawn successfully over the long term and build a viable sustainable population.