March 2023: St. Louis River Area of Concern Updates
The St. Louis River (SLR) was designated as one of the 31 Areas of Concern (AOC) on the Great Lakes. It was designated as an AOC under the U.S. – Canada Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1987 because of significant impacts that occurred before modern environmental laws were in place. Following the SLRAOC Remedial Action Plan, state and federal agencies have been implementing management actions to address the legacy impairments. If you look, you can now see the work in progress throughout the SLRAOC: contractors are busy each construction season, plant and animal populations are rebounding, water is cleaner, and lost habitat is being restored.
Here are some current project updates, continue reading for further details:
Perch Lake Update| In-water work at Perch Lake is complete now that dredging between Hwy 23 and the Waabizheshikana Trail (Marten Trail) is done.
Munger Landing Update | J.F. Brennan is working ten-hour days intermittently this winter removing contaminated sediment from the Snively Creek wetlands just south of Munger Landing.
The St. Louis River Area of Concern: From a Fond du Lac Perspective (Event) | Tuesday, April 4th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Black Bear Casino in the Stoney Brook Creek Room
2023 Anticipated Field Work & Paddlers Awareness Handout | Many projects are planned for the St. Louis River Area of Concern, review these resources for more information
Winter Construction | For safety’s sake, please stay away & be alert to St. Louis River Area of Concern construction traffic near project sites
Perch Lake
In-water work at Perch Lake is complete now that dredging between Hwy 23 and the Waabizheshikana Trail (Marten Trail) is done. Substrate has been added in the slough and lake to support fish spawning.
Restoration of the disturbed areas will begin after snowmelt and a culvert installation under HWY 23 should begin in August 2023.
Additional information about the Perch Lake project can be found on the Minnesota DNR’s St. Louis River Restoration Initiative website.
Image to left: Slough dredging, provided by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). After the work dredging and substrate placement was complete, the sediment berms were removed to allow water to return to the site.
More about this project
Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Land Trust are working together to restore fish and wildlife habitat at Perch Lake. This work is part of a greater effort to mitigate historic impacts to habitat in the St. Louis River under the Great Lakes Area of Concern Program. Perch Lake was once a bay of the St. Louis River estuary. The construction of a railroad causeway and U.S. Highway 23 nearly eliminated this connection, drastically reducing the flows that flushed sediment from the lake and returned nutrients to it. The goal is to restore deep water habitat and improve flows between the Lake and the St. Louis River estuary. LEARN MORE HERE
Munger Landing Update
Photo Credit: Provided by Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
J.F. Brennan is working ten-hour days intermittently this winter. They are removing contaminated sediment from the Snively Creek wetlands just south of Munger Landing.
For your safety, please stay clear of the work area outlined in red. This includes the temporary ice road and railroad tracks.
About this Project:
A sediment cleanup project is underway at Munger Landing, also known as the Clyde Avenue boat launch, to protect human health and the environment from contamination left behind from historic industrial discharges. The Project includes the dredging and off-site disposal of approximately 100,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments across 38 acres. The Project will also restore eight acres of aquatic habitat and include replacement of the motorized boat landing and constructing a new sandy paddle sport launch. LEARN MORE HERE
Safety: The public is reminded to stay away from the work zones and to watch for truck traffic coming in and out of the Munger Landing and Hallett Dock 7 sites. The project team has constructed a temporary ice road along the railroad tracks to access the Snively Creek wetland area south of Munger Landing. For your safety and the safety of the workers, please stay off this ice road and the adjacent railroad tracks. Large trucks and heavy equipment will be working in this area through March. Munger Landing will remain closed to the public through the spring of 2024. Alternative water access is available at Boy Scout Landing and Rice’s Point.
The St. Louis River Area of Concern: From a Fond du Lac Perspective (Event)
Join us on Tuesday, April 4th from 5:30-7:30 p.m. for ‘The St. Louis River Area of Concern: From a Fond du Lac Viewpoint’ at the Stoney Brook Creek Room at Black Bear Casino (1785 MN-210, Carlton, MN 55718).
Speakers from the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa will share their unique cultural perspectives about the St. Louis River Area of Concern, their partnership role, and their own natural resource management efforts.
Around the Earth drum group will open with song and Naawakwe will share Ojibwe place names in the Estuary. St. Louis River Area of Concern Coordinators will share plans for their work in 2023.
This event is free and open to the public. Come enjoy snacks, a cash bar, and thoughtful conversations!
Paddlers Awareness Handout & 2023 Anticipated Field Work
What Area of Concern work might you encounter in MN or WI while you are out on the estuary this year?
Many projects are planned for the St. Louis River Area of Concern. We have an updated Paddlers Awareness Handout and 2023 Anticipated Field Work sheet highlighting what is closed and areas to avoid while out on the water.
**Note: Munger Landing/Clyde Avenue Boat Launch will again be closed for the 2023 season
Winter Construction
Winter construction activities continue at the Munger Landing, Ponds behind Erie Pier, Spirit Lake & Perch Lake sites in MN. Public access remains closed. For safety’s sake, please stay away & be alert to construction traffic near these sites. Learn more from the story maps.
