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Cook County Receives $350,000 in Legacy Funding for Poplar River LUTSEN, Minnesota, December 18, 2006 – The joint efforts of the Poplar River Management Board (PRMB) and Cook County Soil and Water Conservation District made a significant and favorable impression on State officials resulting in the approval of a $350,000 grant for repairing a major streambank erosion site on the lower Poplar River. The specific site is referred to as the Mega Slump and is approximately 650 feet long and almost 100 feet high. It is estimated that as much as 8,000 tons of soil from this site erode into the Poplar River and ultimately Lake Superior each year. The grant is the result of the Clean Water Legacy Act which made $7.81 million available for Minnesota projects. Over $45 million of funding was requested from the Clean Water Legacy Act from a total of 183 applications, with the Cook County project being one of the highest-ranking projects selected. Members of the Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture were involved in the project selection. “The Poplar River Management Board has shown real leadership in making things happen for the Poplar River. We are on our way to making a substantial impact on water quality in the river.” said Scott Harrison, owner of Lutsen Resort and PRMB member. Founded in August 2005, the PRMB has organized an effort with the support of state and local resource agencies to tackle stream bank erosion sources and land-use related impacts. The entire region was logged in the early 1900s, destroying the mature pine forests and several intense forest fires raged through the region. More recent land use includes a ski area, golf course and lodging facilities. The lower Poplar River is defined as the section from the falls north of Lutsen Mountain Ski Area to where the river empties into Lake Superior. The PRMB group formed in response to this section of river becoming listed on the Impaired Rivers list that was developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Wayne Seidel, Conservation Specialist with the Cook County Soil & Water Conservation District said, “The impact of land use when combined with the area’s naturally steep slopes and very fine textured soils, has led to water quality impacts. The water quality problems the Poplar River is having are likely a combination of natural and human caused or accelerated erosion.” Seidel added, “Landowners in the area have recently stepped up to the plate and done many positive things such as enhanced storm water runoff management and better erosion control practices during construction.” “The exact causes of sediment in the Poplar River are unclear at this time,” noted PRMB president, Charles Skinner. “We know that at the time of the original settlement in Lutsen by the Nelson family in the late 1800s, that the lower reach of the River could be navigated by boats with 5 foot drafts whereas today this portion of the River is typically only a few inches deep. We also know that in the early 1900s, the mature evergreen forests were logged, and that logging along the North Shore often involved dynamite blasting of boulders and the banks of the rivers, as well as intentional flooding of the lower sections of these rivers to try to float the thousands of logs into Lake Superior. The lower Poplar River is particularly prone to riverbank erosion due to the large volume of water entering the river, the steep riverbanks and large elevation drop to Lake Superior. Whatever the exact dynamics involved, the Poplar River Management Board is committed to addressing recent manmade causes through best management practices and sophisticated storm water technologies, and also to stabilize the River to help reduce sediment loads.” A study funded by the landowners in the lower Poplar River was the basis for Cook County’s recent environmental report called an AUAR. This report showed that the Cook County land use restrictions already in place will help to control the erosion expected from future development. It also pinpointed major sources of bank erosion that the PRMB has targeted for restoration. Charles Skinner, PRMB president commented, “We’ve partnered with key people and organizations from around the state to learn more about the situation and to take action to remove the lower Poplar from the list. Our goal is to be the first in Minnesota to address the impairment and to return the Poplar River to compliance with the appropriate sediment standards.” Other work is in progress on the river. Last month, funds were provided by the US Environmental Protection Agency to enable the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to further evaluate the sediment sources that are contributing to the river. The MPCA will determine a total maximum daily load (TMDL) needed to maintain a healthy river and will recommend additional structures and land use changes needed to protect the river. Cook County’s Soil & Water Conservation District and Water Advisory Committee will participate in this process by providing means for local review and comment. Studies already completed by the MPCA conclude that the main source of the river’s impairment is above-average sediment levels that occur during spring melt and other high-flow rain events. The work of the PRMB and the Cook County AUAR identified the Mega Slump as contributing up to 65 percent of the sediment. One of the PRMB’s first priorities was to determine how to repair the Mega Slump. “We received a matching grant from Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program to specify repair methods last year,” Skinner said. “Our initial investment of time and money in this important project seems to have paid off. The dollars needed for repair are here and we are ready to get started.” The PRMB looked at the river problem as an opportunity to show what can be done. The local Soil & Water Conservation District will administer the grant and oversee the project. The plans developed will be useful to others in their attempts to address similar stream problems along the North Shore. By partnering with all the interested parties, showing a commitment to get the job done, and working hard, the efforts of the PRMB will be reflected in major improvements to the Poplar River.
For information about the Poplar River Management Board contact Curt Sparks PRMB Engineer at 651-255-5043 or Charles Skinner, President PRMB at 218-663-2281 ext 1215.
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