Brown’s Creek is a DNR designated trout stream that had impairments for turbidity (total suspended solids) and lack of cold water assemblage (thermal loading). A riparian shading study completed under a 2017 Clean Water Fund Accelerated Implementation Grant identified 2,400 linear feet of Brown’s Creek near the Millbrook development in Stillwater in need of additional riparian shading. This grant project addressed the vegetation along the creek along the identified stretch, with work taking place from November 1, 2021 to December 14, 2022.
Restoration Details
The Brown’s Creek Watershed District worked with Millbrook HOA and the City of Stillwater to restore native vegetation by removing invasive woody species and planting native trees and shrubs to shade the trout stream while allowing understory to stabilize stream banks. The restoration work was completed by Minnesota Native Landscapes.
Invasive Species Removal and Management
Invasive species were cut and treated over 23.6 acres of riparian area in late fall/winter 2021. Species removed included common buckthorn, glossy buckthorn, Amur maple, mulberry, and Asian honeysuckle. To further manage invasives, ongoing treatment of spraying and cutting was deemed necessary. Millbrook HOA committed to five years of maintenance.
Native Tree and Shrub Planting
Restoration also included strategically planting 60 native trees and 120 shrubs to increase the amount of shade over the creek during the growing season to reduce stream warming. The native planting was competed in fall 2022.
Restoration Benefits
The restoration improved Brown's Creek decreasing erosion from invasive species and increasing shade from deep rooted native plants along an area that was being warmed resulting in improved habitats. The shading could lower the stream temperatures just below the thermal stress threshold for trout, thereby allowing for potential population expansion, natural reproduction, and increased survival of trout upstream of the gorge. The stream was not able to support native trout as of 2022, but the conditions are trending in the right direction!
Project Cost
$94,194.51 total paid by the following:
- $78,760 - 2019 Watershed Based Funding Metro Grant
- $15,434.51 – BCWD Match (From Levy)
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