ACD has grant funding available to enhance in-stream habitat in the Rum River! This effort focuses on areas adjacent to public land and those which are accessible for shore fishing. Rock vanes, woody overhangs, and similar features will be installed in areas where aquatic habitat structure is currently lacking to provide adequate holding and resting areas for game fish and the forage they rely on. This is part of a larger, corridor-scale river restoration effort supported by funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund and several collaborating agencies. 

We are currently compiling a detailed inventory of existing conditions at several sites throughout Anoka, Isanti, and Mille Lacs Counties. Do you enjoy shore fishing along the Rum? Let us know which areas you think could use improvement! Share your feedback with Breanna Keith, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Addressing eroding slopes along an undeveloped portion of the Martin Lake shoreline required a creative stabilization solution. Sandy soils, wave action (increasing with boat activity), and fluctuating water levels cumulatively drove soil loading to the lake and the gradual encroachment of the shoreline toward the adjacent road. However, site access and workable land upslope was limited, and preserving mature trees and other natural shoreline elements was a priority. To achieve this, sections of stacked logs were anchored to the base of the shoreline along critical eroding areas. 

The lower logs act as a barrier to prevent waves from washing out soil at the base of the slope, and the upper logs trap the sandy soil falling from behind – rebuilding the eroded voids and creating a more stable slope within which vegetation can become re-established. At the same time, wildlife such as nesting turtles can still access these areas. ACD staff will continue monitoring this site in the coming years to assess its long-term effectiveness in protecting the shoreline. For more information contact Breanna Keith,Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Ford Brook is a stream tributary to the Rum River draining over 24,000 acres of rural lands in northwestern Anoka County. Nutrient concentrations in Ford Brook regularly exceed state standards for impairment, thereby contributing to excess nutrient loading in the Rum River. Addressing this issue requires watershed-level analyses and an understanding of which best management practice (BMP) would provide the greatest benefit per dollar spent; ACD's Subwatershed Analysis ("SWA") approach does just this.

ACD has completed over 20 urban SWAs in order to strategically plan for BMPs such as stormwater ponds, rain gardens, and subsurface structures treating stormwater runoff. However, replicating this process in rural watersheds, dominated by agriculture, required different tools and techniques; ACD achieved this for the Ford Brook Watershed through the use of desktop analyses, targeted water quality monitoring, field surveys, and a new modeling tool called PTMApp. 

On lakeshores and riverbanks, fluctuating water levels, currents, or wave action can gradually eat away the soil along the water's edge and compromise the ground above. However, any slope – regardless of its proximity to a waterbody – can experience erosion from water runoff. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate these impacts. 

Vegetation is often essential to slope stabilization. Native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses provide ground cover, slow the velocity of water runoff, and produce a network of deep, interconnected roots, which help lock soil in place. Lawn debris, heavy shade, and invasive buckthorn are common drivers of suppressed plant growth. To manage these challenges, avoid dumping yard waste on sloped areas, prune trees and shrubs to increase sunlight, and remove buckthorn using these techniques. Then, bolster the native plant community with supplemental seeding and/or plantings. Be sure to select species well-suited to your property, and support them as they became established by removing weeds, watering when needed, and covering temporarily exposed soils with erosion control fabric. This seed selection tool, plant finder tool, and native plant encyclopedia can help you select plants well-suited to your site.  

In some cases, additional stabilization elements are needed. Rock rip-rap, coir logs, and tree revetments are commonly used to protect the zone where moving water meets the land and restricts vegetation growth. Excessively steep slopes can be re-shaped to a more stable grade, and brush or straw wattles can be trenched into the slope to slow water runoff and trap soil. Taking early action to stabilize your slope is key to avoiding costlier solutions such as retaining walls or other heavily engineered approaches. For more information contact Breanna Keith, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.