Legacy Funds Stabilize Eroding Rum Riverbanks in 2024

ACD has been busy stabilizing severely eroded riverbanks along the Rum River to reduce the load of sediment and nutrients entering the river and to enhance the habitat of the Rum. A large initiative utilizing phases of grant funding from the Clean Water Land and Legacy amendment kicked off after a 2017 erosion inventory highlighted just how much need there was along the Rum River. To date, this initiative has garnered significant local investment beyond the competitive state grant dollars from Anoka County, the Upper and Lower Rum River WMOs, the Cities of Anoka and St. Francis, ACD, and numerous property owners. In 2024, we substantially completed construction for Phase 1 of funding from two competitive state grant sources; the Clean Water Fund (CWF), and the Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF). 

Photo: Before (left) and after (right) stabilization of the some of the most severely documented erosion along the Rum River in Oak Grove.

With these funds, along with local match dollars from the all the sources mentioned, we successfully installed the following in 2024:

  • 405-feet of articulated concrete toe to normal water levels, with low rock riprap armoring to the two-year flood elevation along some of the highest, steepest, and deepest erosion on the river in Oak Grove (CWF grant funds).
  • 115-feet of supplemental rock toe around 40-foot tall bank with toe erosion, susceptible to critical failure in the near future in Oak Grove (OHF grant funds).
  • 415-feet of rock toe armoring to a two-year flood elevation with upper banks graded and seeded with native vegetation in Oak Grove, (OHF grant funds). Bank heights ranged from 12-feet to 20-feet with a shear vertical eroded face.
  • 400-feet of rock toe armoring to a two-year flood elevation with 225-feet of vegetated reinforced soil slope, and 175-feet of graded upper bank, all of which was seeded to native vegetation in Anoka (OHF grant funds). This bank was approximately 10-feet in height with a paved walking trail actively falling into the river.
  • 200-feet of cedar revetment along moderate toe erosion at the Anoka Nature Preserve in Anoka (OHF grant funds). A 550-foot stretch immediately upstream of this segment is planned for a bioengineering project in 2025.
Photo: A 400-foot bioengineered riverbank near the Anoka High School. Photo credit: MNL
In sum, this 2024 Rum Riverbank work protects 1,535-linear feet of shoreline, enhances 1.2 acres of habitat, and reduces annual pollutant load delivery to the river by more than 824 tons of sediment and 700 lbs of phosphorus. These installations were the culmination of years of work with landowners and partners, engineering, design, and construction management. Please see ACD's Project Dashboards for a detailed description of these and each of our completed conservation practices at https://anokaswcd.org/projects/interactive-progress-dashboards.html.
Photo: A total of 935-feet of severely eroding riverbank was stabilized in Oak Grove
Future phases of Rum River Initiative work focus more heavily on habitat enhancement through the Outdoor Heritage Fund grant while continuing the stabilization of eroding banks. See future updates throughout 2025 as we work to benefit in-stream, floodplain wetland, and riparian habitat, as well as continue to stabilize eroding banks using bioengineering approaches. 2025 promises to be a big year as well! For more information contact Jared Wagner, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Rum Riverbank Stabilization in Oak Grove

Construction was completed in early November to stabilize one of the highest priority riverbanks in Anoka County. Two separate projects, spanning multiple properties, stabilized 935-feet of some of the tallest and most eroding riverbank on the Rum River. Portions of this stretch ranked at the top of the list of 80+ identified eroding banks during a 2017 erosion inventory of the Rum River through Anoka County. Altogether, these projects are estimated to reduce annual pollutant loading to the Rum River by 753-tons of sediment, and 640-lbs of total phosphorus.  

Photo: Before and after construction of upstream half of riverbank stabilization project, looking upstream.
Photo: Before and after construction of downstream half of riverbank stabilization project, looking downstream.

The project utilized a combination of hard armoring techniques, including rock riprap and concrete block mat to stabilize the water adjacent slope that reached 10' deep. The concrete block mat was installed on a low bench and topped with rock riprap to hide the concrete block visually from the river during all but the lowest water conditions. A portion of the bank was left alone to self-stabilize over time with the help of native vegetation. Where possible, the upper bank was graded back and also seeded with native vegetation. A rock barb was installed at a strategic location to redirect the erosive current away from the riverbank and to provide in-stream habitat benefit.

Funding sources include the Clean Water Fund and Outdoor Heritage Fund (both from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment) as well as contributions from landowners, Anoka County, and the Upper Rum River WMO. For more information contact Jared Wagner, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Rum Riverbank Stabilization in Oak Grove - Update

Construction is underway to stabilize one of the highest priority eroding riverbanks in Anoka County. Two separate projects spanning multiple properties will stabilize a total of 935' of some of the tallest and most severely eroding riverbanks on the Rum River. A portion of this stretch was ranked in the top two of over eighty identified eroding banks during a 2017 erosion inventory of the Rum River. Altogether, the stabilization of this stretch of bank is estimated to reduce annual pollutant loading to the Rum River by 753-tons of sediment, and 640-lbs of total phosphorus. Construction began in early September and should wrap up prior to winter. 

Photo: Active construction along the toe of one of the most severely eroding riverbanks on the Rum River.

The project utilizes a combination of hard armoring techniques, including rock riprap and articulated concrete block mat to stabilize the very tall slope. After the toe is armored, banks will be graded back where they can be to provide a stable slope, and native vegetation and trees will be planted. Funding sources include grant dollars from the Clean Water Fund and Outdoor Heritage Fund (both from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment) as well as match dollars from the landowners, Anoka County, and the Upper Rum River WMO.For more information contact Jared Wagner, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Rum Riverbank Stabilization in Oak Grove

Plans, permits, and bids have come together to stabilize one of the highest priority eroding riverbanks along the Rum River in Anoka County. The project spans multiple properties and will stabilize some of the tallest and most severely eroding riverbanks on the Rum River in Anoka County.

A portion of this stretch was ranked in the top two of over eighty identified eroding banks during a 2017 erosion inventory. Through the stabilization of this stretch of bank, annual pollutant loading to the Rum River is estimated to be reduced by 473-tons of sediment, and 402-lbs of total phosphorus. Construction is planned to begin around September 1st, 2024, and should wrap up prior to winter. Photo: Surveying the tall eroding bank. 

Photo: Landscape shot around eroding bank looking downstream.

Funding sources include grant dollars from the Clean Water Fund and Outdoor Heritage Fund (both from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment) as well as match dollars from the landowners, Anoka County, and the Upper Rum River WMO. For more information contact Jared Wagner, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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Anoka Riverfront Easement Rum Riverbank Stabilization

Erosion along 400-feet of Rum riverbank at a City of Anoka riverfront easement is causing sediment loading and tree loss, and has washed out a highly used walking trail. The design features three primary protection measures detailed below. 

1. The toe of the bank, mostly below the water line, will be armored with a rock. The rock will be installed up to the two-year flood elevation (50% of years it will be completely covered). This lowers the top of the rock by two feet compared to the standard approach. This allows habitat friendly approaches above.

2. Above the rock, the bank will be seeded with a native plants, and staked with willow and dogwood. Native vegetation provides habitat benefit and root structure to anchor the soil in place. We may grade the bank back to a flatter, more stable slope. Alternatively, we may use a series of wrapped soil lifts called a "vegetated reinforced soil system" to maintain a steeper slope that is still stable and vegetated. The final decision will be based on bids received.

3. There is a heavily used informal access point at the upstream end of this site. This area gets beat down by heavy foot traffic. We will use one roll of articulated concrete block to offer stable footing and reduce the erosion caused by that foot traffic.

For more information contact Jared Wagner, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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