Two large ravines within Spring Lake Park Reserve were actively eroding, resulting in sedimentation damages to public and private property, including natural resource features within Spring Lake Park Reserve and the Mississippi River. Dakota County was awarded a Clean Water Fund grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources to fund 75 percent of project costs to stabilize the ravines in 2021.
Final design was completed in late 2021 and construction began January 2022. The scope of the project included limited tree removal, earthwork (including the placement of small boulders), storm sewer and native vegetation restoration. The project was estimated to reduce total phosphorus by 105 pounds per year and total suspended solids by 525 tons per year to the Mississippi River. A decades-old dump site at the top of one of the ravines will also be remediated.
Two small gullies were stabilized near the Mississippi River Greenway in December 2022.
Project timeline
January–April 2022: Ravine 1 and 2 stabilization
Fall 2022: Final vegetation establishment and warranty work
December 2022: Two small gullies near the Mississippi River Greenway were stabilized by construction crews.