Minnesota Trout Unlimited has a long history of working on habitat improvement projects across the state.  From limestone streams in southeast Minnesota to the cascading streams of the North Shore, MNTU has been a leader in protecting, restoring and enhancing our coldwater resources.

In November 2008, Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment dedicating the proceeds of a new state sales tax to protecting and improving Minnesota’s natural resources.  A competitive grant process followed and in March 2009 the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council recommended full funding of Minnesota Trout Unlimited’s proposal to improve coldwater habitat in eleven streams around the state. Fifteen miles of stream work was completed with this first round of funding.  This was the first step in a new phase of MNTU’s habitat work around the state.  In the years that have followed, funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund has enabled MNTU to complete habitat projects in dozens of locations around the state.  Along with other federal, state and private funds, MNTU has been able to greatly expand our restoration work improving coldwater habitat and building climate resilient streams and watersheds around the state. MNTU is a responsible manager of grant funding and is proud that administrative costs average less than 5% of grant funding.  On completed grants, only 4.2% of funding was utilized for TU administrative costs.

Minnesota Trout Unlimited and its five (formerly six as seen in the map below) TU chapters, with assistance from the MNDNR, has stabilized stream banks, improved water quality, and increased habitat for trout and non-game species.   Minnesota TU members are honored to have been given this opportunity to improve Minnesota’s coldwater resources for all anglers and citizens.  We are thankful to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, the Minnesota Legislature and Minnesota taxpayers for partnering with us to improve our State’s resources.

When is a habitat project truly completed?

Because trout habitat work is done in areas at the edge of streams where flows rise and fall frequently and unpredictably, and where flooding over the banks is not uncommon, projects remain very vulnerable to erosion until riparian vegetation becomes well established.  It typically takes two full growing seasons or more after the year of the initial installation for the growth of adequate vegetation root mass.  For example, a project first installed or reported as having been “completed” in 2018 will not truly be complete until fall 2020 or later.  Some erosion and settling of soil is inevitable for the first couple years.  We plan for this and contract for two years of inspections and repair/maintenance.  In addition, we count of floods to scour pools and move sediments in ways which gradually narrow and deepen streams.  Thus even the best designed habitat projects will not be complete until 2 or 3 years (or more) after they are initially reported as having been completed.

Repair and Maintenance of Habitat Projects

Trout habitat work remains very vulnerable to erosion until riparian vegetation becomes well established.  This usually takes two full growing seasons after the year of the initial installation work.  Since some erosion and settling of soil is almost inevitable these first couple years, our contracts with both the design firm and the construction contractor require they periodically inspect and repair the project site for two full years after the year of installation (for example, 2018 installation means inspection and repairs through October 2020).  Because habitat work in dynamic streams involves a fair degree of “art” in addition to science, sometimes flooding reveals where a design tweak is needed.  This is another reason why our repair/maintenance provisions are this long, since floods typically occur every year and a half and well within our repair/maintenance performance period.  If a flood reveals a design or installation shortcoming it too will be corrected as part of the repair/maintenance process.

Even the best designed and installed habitat work occasionally needs some maintenance or repair.  In many parts of the state even a run of the mill flood can carry large logs and whole trees downstream for considerable distances.  When these large logs and trees catch in a bend or other feature they can cause significant erosion and even blow out stream banks and their installed habitat.  As the amount of improved habitat increases due to the work of MNDNR and TU the need for funding for regular maintenance will increase.  Outdoor Heritage Fund dollars may not be available for this type of work, so securing other funding sources for either MNDNR or TU to make repairs remains an important need.

Bidding on MNTU project work
MNTU uses rigorous competitive bidding processes to select firms for design and construction work for each project. MNTU maintains lists of potentially qualified environmental design firms, construction contractors, and material suppliers but is always looking to expand the lists of potential bidders. Firms that wish to receive RFPs/bid packages for MNTU’s stream habitat projects can email MNTU’s Habitat Director, Jennifer Biederman, at: jennifer.biederman@mntu.org