Capital Improvement Project

Rosemount/Flint Hills Ravine Restoration Project

Before

Reducing sediment erosion to the Mississippi River Stormwater flowing through a culvert eroded Water from an area near the interchange at U.S. Hwy 52 and a deep ravine into a steep bluff, contributing Minnesota Hwy 55 was flowing through a culvert under a sediment to Spring Lake. A grade-control Union Pacific Railroad line and spilling onto a steep bluff face structure, a pond, an infiltration area and re- at the head of a ravine on property owned by Flint Hills vegetation reduced sediment runoff. Resources. The stormwater runoff accelerated erosion and ravine development and contributed sediment to Spring Lake Completed cooperatively by: and the Mississippi River.  City of Rosemount

 Flint Hills Resources Dakota County, Dakota Soil and Water Conservation District  VRWJPO (SWCD), the City of Rosemount, the Minnesota Department of  Dakota SWCD Transportation (MNDOT), Flint Hills Resources, and the  Dakota County Parks Department Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization  Minnesota Dept. of Transportation (VRWJPO) identified a solution: a grade control structure to convey water from the top of the bluff to the bottom, A grant from the eliminating further erosion of the bluff face. Clean Water Fund, one of four funds A pond located at the bottom of the structure dissipates established by the energy, settles sediments, and promotes additional water Clean Water, Land retention. A weir structure on the upstream end of the culvert & Legacy will help retain and provide for the infiltration of stormwater. Amendment, supported this Sediment reduction to Spring Lake and the Lower Mississippi project. Clean River is estimated at 82 tons/year. FACT Water Stories can SHEET be found on the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil 1 Resources website. DECEMBER 2008

After Problem: The project included a  Water from an area near the interchange of U.S. grade-control Hwy. 52 and Minn. Hwy. 55, flowing through a structure to culvert under the Union Pacific Railroad, spilled take water from the top onto a steep bluff face at the head of a ravine. This accelerated the head cut and ravine of the bluff to Can brown trout adapt to higher Maryland Study shows the bottom, development and caused severe erosion and where it sediment transport to Spring Lake and the temperatures? decline in brook trout flows into a Mississippi River. Thermal tolerance among trout is a due to temperature and pond genetically determined trait, so trout land cover changes designed to Actions: populations can change over time to dissipate adapt to higher temperatures. Most A study by Maryland energy, settle  Installed a grade-control structure that takes researchers think that wild fish Department of Natural sediments, populations (with varying genetic and promote water from the top of the bluff to the bottom, Resources biologists water eliminating flow from cutting into the ravine and makeup) can better adapt over time highlights the detrimental retention. transporting sediments downstream. than domestically raised fish (who may impact of development, loss  Installed a weir at the upstream end of the be genetically very similar to one of forest, and temperature culvert to retain and provide for the infiltration another). changes on brook trout, of stormwater. Maryland’s only native trout  Installed a pond to dissipate energy at the Do trout move to avoid species. bottom of the grade-control structure, settle temperature increases? additional sediments, and promote water “Over the last 30 years brook Investigators found that brown trout in retention. trout numbers have declined the Vermillion River move when drastically in many Maryland temperatures exceed 20 degrees C. City of Rosemount, Minn., Benefits: streams and disappeared They move to areas where banks are within the Vermillion River completely from several undercut and vegetation overhangs the Watershed.  Improving water quality by preventing an streams in the rapidly water, pools where cool groundwater estimated 82 tons per year of sediment from developing Baltimore seepage maintains the temperature, flowing into Spring Lake and the Lower metropolitan area,” said lead and deep pools that stay cool despite Mississippi River. The Lower Mississippi River is author Scott Stranko, a surface temperature increases. impaired for turbidity (suspended solids), and biologist with Maryland DNR.

the project reduces sediment loading to the There are several circumstances that River. can prevent brown trout from escaping The study analyzed brook  Stabilizing the bluff area where the Mississippi high water temperatures, including: trout distribution and River Regional Trail, a paved biking trail, will be

Vermillion River Watershed placed. abundance data collect by  Low water levels and restricted Joint Powers Organization the DNR’s Fisheries Service 14955 Galaxie Avenue water flow. If the trout is isolated over the last three decades Costs and contributions: in a pond area within the stream Apple Valley, MN 55124 against stream temperatures www.vermillionriverwatershed.org because of dry conditions or  Clean Water Fund: $175,440 grant and land cover. For every 952-891-7000 barriers that prevent movement, it  City of Rosemount: Engineering and one percent increase in can’t move to cooler water. The Vermillion River is a vital construction management  Surges of heated stormwater from impervious land cover natural resource that is important  Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers large rainstorms falling on hot (parking lots, roadways, Organization: $13,044 cost share to public health and recreation, as asphalt, concrete, or bare soil and rooftops, etc.) in a stream’s well as preserving unique wildlife  Dakota County Parks: $13,044 local match running into the stream. The heat watershed, the odds of habitats. It flows from New  Minnesota Department of Transportation: pulse may also come from a large brook trout survival Market Township in Scott County, $18,942 storm spilling heated water from a through residential and  Flint Hills Resources: $32,391 project land value rate control pond into the stream. decreased by nearly 60 agricultural areas in central match  Chronic temperature stress. If the percent. Dakota County, and cascades into  Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation trout has encountered increased a 100-foot ravine before it enters District: Technical assistance temperatures over a period of the Mississippi River near the  time, it may not have sufficient Cities of Hastings and Red Wing, Total project costs: $252,861 energy to move to a cooler spot. Minnesota. Throughout its journey, the river reflects urban and rural life within its 335-square 12/2016 mile watershed. Project completed July 2014