Project Overview
The Brown’s Creek Watershed District aims to partner with adjacent property owners to restore 1,950 ft of Brown’s Creek between Millbrook HOA and McKusick Road, which encompasses three private properties and Brown’s Creek Cove HOA. This project will improve water quality and habitat by narrowing the stream channel, removing invasive trees and shrubs, restoring riffles and pools, restoring the floodplain, stabilizing streambanks, and replanting with diverse native species.
This project will begin in early 2026 once funding is confirmed.
Cost and Funding
The project is estimated to cost a total of $370,000. BCWD is seeking funding for this project through an EPA/MN Pollution Control Agency 319 Grant and a Lower St. Croix Watershed Based Implementation Funding Grant.
Project Benefits
The anticipated benefits of the restored stream include:
- Reduced bank erosion and subsequent sediment and nutrient loading to the creek and the St. Croix River.
- Improved Habitat:
- Rock riffles increase fish spawning opportunities and provide stable refuge for macroinvertebrates.
- More deeper pools provide thermal refuge for aquatic biota during the summer months and overwintering habitat for fish and amphibians.
- Instream woody structures provide fish and macroinvertebrate habitat and protect streambanks from erosion.
- Native seeding increases pollinator habitat, diversity, and extent of native vegetation over invasive species such as common buckthorn, reed canary grass, and garlic mustard.
- A reconnected floodplain improves wetland hydrology and helps rehabilitate native riparian vegetation.
- The establishment of brush piles and snag trees provides refuge for non-game species like small mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Restoration Process and Timeline
Assessing Existing Conditions
Currently, this stretch of Brown's Creek had eroding streambanks and sediment in the channel bottom, a disconnected floodplain, dense woody invasive species, and limited pool depths for trout refuge.
Planning and Design
The grant agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for the 319 grant has been executed, and the grant agreement with the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership is pending.
BCWD will be having a public hearing to order the project at the March 11th regular meeting.
Our goal is to have permitting and landowner agreements in place by mid-2026.
Construction
Construction is estimated to begin in late 2026, with restoration completed by summer 2027.