Standing by a newly restored stream, the benefits are often clear: the eroding banks, invasive plants, and barren channels have been replaced with gently sloped banks, deep pools, spawning riffles, and thriving native vegetation. It’s easy to see how these improvements boost fish populations by creating better habitat for food...
On October 5 close to 40 individuals joined us for a day-long behind the scenes tour of sites where MNTU has completed habitat improvement projects. Our Executive Director John Lenczewski and Habitat Director, Jennifer Biederman led the trip, sharing their knowledge of how a project is planned, executed and monitored....
On August 4,2024 twenty conservation-minded folks gathered on the banks of Eagle Creek in Savage, MN to become certified Save Our Streams (SOS) community scientists – learning the techniques for biological and chemical water testing in streams. The effort was led by the Twin City Trout Unlimited (TCTU) Streamkeepers...
Unobstructed pathways are crucial for stream-dwelling trout at key times throughout the year and life cycle. Trout must be able to move freely in a stream system to reach spawning and overwintering areas, find coldwater refuge in low, warm summer flows, and access feeding grounds. However, barriers like dams, road...
This photo from Hay Creek in the State Forest illustrates how the June flood waters spread out. You can see the flattened grass. The energy release of floodplain prevented any damage to the instream habitat.
A box elder sitting on top of legacy sediment, ready to fall in and take a big chunk of the bank along with it! Mill Creek, Chatfield (Winona County). By Dr. Jennifer Biederman The Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota, characterized by its unique topography of steep hills and deep valleys untouched by...
by Dr. Jennifer Biederman Stream restoration projects are essential for the rehabilitation of freshwater ecosystems, particularly for species such as trout, which are sensitive to environmental changes. Designing an effective trout stream restoration project involves a blend of ecological science, hydrological understanding, and community engagement. MNTU stream projects not only...
In northeastern Minnesota, where clear streams carve through thick forests and rocky ridges, the brook trout—a symbol of pristine waters—faces an uncertain future. Climate change, manifesting through rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, is reshaping the habitat these fish have thrived in for millennia. Flows of these streams are fueled...
A pre-construction bid meeting on Mill Creek in December ‘23, with MNTU’s contracted design engineers, MNDNR, MNTU habitat staff and potential construction firms. While late winter and early spring might not seem like the peak time for trout stream restoration in Minnesota, MNTU's habitat program is anything but dormant. Though fieldwork...
