Rice Creek Meander Restoration
Ramsey County Parks and Recreation, the Rice Creek Watershed District and Emmons & Oliver Resources, Inc. are proceding with a restoration project on Rice Creek. The project, now under construction, is entirely within Rice Creek North Regional Park and will include a 1/2-mile stretch of Rice Creek located between Lexington Avenue and County Road I. The project aims to restore the historical winding flow path and surrounding wetland hydrology for this reach of stream, which was straightened in the early 1900’s. The benefits of this project include increasing fish and invertebrate habitat, improving water quality and overall aesthetics of the area.
The project will improve fish and invertebrate habitat by restoring pools and riffles, thereby increasing and diversifying habitat for aquatic life. Each riffle would be built so it is in the backwater of the next riffle. This would work in harmony with natural sedimentation and erosion by the river, minimizing erosion of the riffle and relying on nature’s tendency to build up the creek bed at certain points.
By restoring the wetland hydrology, water quality will be improved. Wetlands act as natural filters and natural sponges that absorb excess water and release it slowly, thereby reducing flooding. Adding meanders will also improve water quality by slowing the water down, which will reduce erosion and the sediment load in the water.
There is a good chance that when the project is complete, park users might not realize that there ever was a project there. Bird-watchers might not be aware that the vegetation was replanted. Canoe enthusiasts might not know that the depths and widths determining the creek’s velocity and sinuosity were carefully calculated and that the rocks were strategically placed. If that happens, the project will be a tremendous success.
- Photos
- Project Design - 1.71 MB