Highway 197 Realignment Project Overview
Special thanks to Bill Isaacson for the aerial photos!
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The original plan required a vertical sheet
piling component to minimize encroachment into lake, and required sod between bike
path and sheet piling or rock riprap.
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Use of sod can contribute to water
quality degradation, and doesn’t provide habitat.
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Native vegetation increases infiltration,
acts as a filter to keep pollutants out of the lake, and deters geese from the area,
which creates a safer transportation corridor.
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Beltrami SWCD approached MN DOT for
support to apply for MN DNR Shoreline Habitat Restoration (SHR) Grant to incorporate
native vegetation in place of sod.
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Because of MN DOT commitment to implement
the native vegetation, DNR Waters issued a revised permit to use riprap instead
of the vertical sheet piling, and incorporated walleye spawning habitat to the project.
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Thanks to local MN DNR support, the project was awarded a Shoreland Habitat Restoration (SHR)
Grant of $40,000 for native vegetation procurement and installation.
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MN DOT revised plans to incorporate
native vegetation, create walleye spawning habitat and committed to 10 years site
maintenance.
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These partnerships resulted in a total
project savings of almost $400,000!
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The Beltrami SWCD and BSU
Graduate Student Anita Merritt worked to design a demonstration project to encourage the
use of native vegetation in shoreline projects.
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The total project is just over 2000
linear feet beginning at the inlet from the Mississippi River, including four “lookout”
areas that will include descriptive, educational signage.
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Shoreline protection, shaping and topsoil
preparation were complete in May 2004.
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The plantings were installed
by Beltrami SWCD and Minnesota Conservation Corps in May and June of 2004.
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The project brochures and signage will
be complete by Fall 2005.
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