Little Calumet River-Marshalltown Marsh-MLK North Wetland Complex. Nearshore Emergent Marsh and Stream Corridor Restoration.

Location

Lower Lake Michigan, Lake County, Indiana, Little Calumet River-Marshalltown Marsh-MLK Wetland Complex, 

Goals

The restoration of degraded hemi-marsh wetland, nearshore, and riverine floodplain habitat in a heavily developed/impacted wetland near the south shore of Lake Michigan, improving nursery habitat, cover, and forage for fish, herps, waterfowl, secretive marsh birds and invertebrates.

Objectives

Assess existing site conditions and identify restoration opportunities to improve fish, wildlife and avian habitat within portions of the Little Calumet River MLK North, and Marshalltown Marsh complex. 

Develop E&D plans for improving and enhancing a 1.5 mile segment of the Little Calumet River with improved fish passage, re-meandering and re-alignment with the historic river channel, provide a reduction in sedimentation, improved channel design and instream/riparian, and emergent hemi-marsh habitat reestablishment/enhancement.

Dwight’s Point and Pokegama Wetlands State Natural Area Resiliency Project

Location

City of Superior Municipal Forest – Dwight’s Point and Pokegama Wetlands State Natural Area, Wisconsin. 

Goals

To minimize erosion at culverts, prevent sediment from being added into wetland systems including Kimballs Bay and the St. Louis River Estuary, improve water quality, ensure connectivity, and protect wetland and upland habitat at, and near, culverts. 

Three culverts will be targeted in the Dwight’s Point and Pokegama Wetlands State Natural Area at the Billings Drive crossing where the stream enters Kimballs Bay and the St. Louis River.  

Objectives

Develop 60-80% engineering and design plans to enhance wetland crossings with sustainable and resilient designs that incorporate climate adaptive strategies and support connectivity for aquatic species. 

Provide habitat enhancement strategies and water quality improvement strategies for the sub-watershed area connected to the crossing. Habitat enhancement to include consideration of upland and wetland plantings or other strategy designs to improve water quality within Kimball’s bay. 

Support cultural regeneration of the site by including strategies to pave the way for future wild rice restoration, pending formal approval of plans.

Develop a management plan to monitor designed practices and enhancements to maintain long-term function and sustainability.

Slaughterhouse Creek Creek Brook Trout Habitat Reconnection

Location: Lake Superior St Louis River Watershed-  Slaughterhouse Creek in Carlton County Minnesota 

Goals

To restore streambank and to reconnect brook trout habitat in Slaughterhouse Creek

Objectives

Develop engineering and design plans for stream restoration and stream meandering to restore brook trout habitat connectivity. 

Goal 1: Develop  engineering and design plans  to replace undersized culverts to enable the reconnection of streams and tributaries to benefit aquatic life, improve water quality, and accommodate the changing floodplain. 

Goal 2: Assess feasibility of meandering through H&H modeling. It is anticipated that H&H modeling will provide some options for re-meandering.

Goal 3: Develop ADA compliant public access enhancement strategies.

Slaughterhouse Creek & Hay Creek Brook Trout Habitat Reconnection

Location: Lake Superior St Louis River Watershed-  Hay Creek in Carlton County Minnesota 

Goals

To upgrade culverts and to reconnect brook trout habitat Hay Creek. 

Objectives

Develop  engineering and design plans  to replace undersized culverts to enable the reconnection of streams and tributaries to benefit aquatic life, improve water quality, and accommodate the changing floodplain.