September 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:
Regulated Navigation Areas: To protect engineered remedies, 6 sites in Minnesota are being proposed as federal Regulated Navigation Areas. The draft rule is open for public comment until September 22nd. Please read it & learn how to submit comments HERE.
Pickle Pond: Rail removal, wetland and filter strip construction and monitoring of water clarity outside of Pickle Pond are ongoing. Crews began constructing a wetland spillway and are approximately 90% complete with dredging. Shoreline vegetation work will continue through September. For more information, click HERE.
Perch Lake: Starting September 5th, Landwehr Construction will begin installing a large concrete culvert under Highway 23. This is Phase two of a three-phase project to restore Perch Lake habitat for fish and wildlife. Expect single-lane traffic during construction, continuing through about October 20th.
Thomson Reservoir: Join the Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, & PotlatchDeltic for a public meeting at the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Amphitheatre on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6:00 PM. This meeting is to learn about the 2024 Thomson Reservoir sediment remediation project and ask questions. Register HERE.
Scanlon Reservoir: Upland site restoration activities are in progress and should be completed in September! The public parking area, trail, fishing pier, and walk-in paddle sport landing are all open to the public, but may be temporarily closed to accommodate construction.
Munger Landing & Spirit Lake/U.S. Steel: Information to people & their pets: Please stay away from these sites until they officially reopen. Construction contractors are too busy working to be mindful of trespassers. For everyone’s safety, please stay out of the project areas, including trails and the railroad.
Map of six proposed regulated navigation areas in Minnesota. Credit: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Regulated Navigation Areas
Regulated Navigation Areas: To protect engineered remedies, 6 sites in Minnesota are being proposed as federal Regulated Navigation Areas. The draft rule is open for public comment until September 22nd.
Please read it and learn how to submit comments here: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-08-23/html/2023-18113.htm
Spillway at Pickle Pond.
Credit: White Lake Dock and Dredge
Pickle Pond
Rail removal, wetland and filter strip construction and monitoring of water clarity outside of Pickle Pond are ongoing. Crews began constructing a wetland spillway and are approximately 90% complete with dredging. Shoreline vegetation work will continue through September
For more information: https://pickle-pond-epa.hub.arcgis.com/
Photo of Perch Lake from above.
Credit: 1854 Treaty Authority
Perch Lake
Starting September 5th, Landwehr Construction will begin installing a large concrete culvert under Highway 23. This is Phase two of a three-phase project to restore Perch Lake habitat for fish and wildlife. Expect single-lane traffic during construction, continuing through about October 20th.
Thomson Reservoir
Join the Environmental Protection Agency, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, & PotlatchDeltic for a public meeting at the Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College Amphitheatre on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 PM. This meeting is to learn about the 2024 Thomson Reservoir sediment remediation project and ask questions.
Register HERE: https://bit.ly/3E91H7T
Scanlon Reservoir
Upland site restoration activities are in progress and should be completed in September. The public parking area, trail, fishing pier and walk-in paddle sport landing are all open to the public, but may experience temporary closures to accommodate construction.
Munger Landing & Spirit Lake/U.S. Steel:
Information to people and pets: Please stay away from these sites until they officially reopen. Construction contractors are too busy working to be mindful of trespassers. For everyone’s safety, please stay out of the project areas, including trails and the railroad.
