Shared Streams – Dark River, Minnesota

115 family forest landowners attended the Dark River Shared Streams field day in 2000.

In Minnesota, Shared Streams is implementing an innovative project to deter beaver activity and improve trout habitat along a section of the Dark River.

The Potlatch Corporation (a certified Tree Farm), Waybinahbe Chapter of TU, Minnesota DNR, U.S. Forest Service –Superior National Forest, and Fond du Lac Band Division of Resource Management are conducting an innovative project to deter beaver activity and improve a section of the Dark River. The Dark River is a premier trout stream in the Minnesota DNR Grand Rapids management area.

Assessments in the early 1980s by the DNR indicated that beaver activity, debris dams and instream alder growth were limiting fish movement, reducing water velocities, increasing sedimentation and elevating stream temperatures. The Shared Streams project has involved the conversion of aspen – a preferred food of beaver – to red pine and white spruce on a �-mile segment of the river that runs through Potlatch’s property. The conversion of aspen to red pine and white spruce will deter beaver activity, decrease sedimentation, and cool water temperature. A vegetation conversion of this magnitude has not been attempted elsewhere and will provide valuable information on the efficacy of such efforts and the compatibility of forest and stream management in the Great Lakes region.

It has been a year since the initial habitat work has been done and there are no new dams or evidence of beaver activity.  The amount of gravel and cobble substrate has also increased while sedimentation has decreased.  Lessons learned from this project will be shared with forest owners, agencies, organizations and other companies in the Great Lakes region through on-site tours, workshops, "how-to" brochures and promotional strategies.

Shared Streams – Gorman Creek, Minnesota

Over 175 family forest owners managing more than 13,000 acres attended the September 2002 field day to learn how to improve wildlife habitat and improve water quality on their forests.

Second generation Tree Farmers Mike and Pete Greenheck are continuing their father's work ethic of "leaving more than they take". They have worked with Minnesota DNR Watershed Coordinator Larry Gates, MN DNR foresters, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program to develop a plan to restore the half-mile of Gorman Creek that runs through their land. Gorman Creek is one of many tributaries of the Mississippi River, the source of drinking water for more than 18 million Americans.

The project constructed a new, meandering 4,200-foot channel in the headwaters of Gorman Creek to replace 2,500 feet of channelized stream. The banks of the new, naturalized stretch of the creek were planted using native grasses and trees under the NRCS Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Ten acres of riparian buffer and wildlife habitat improvement were established along 0.8 miles of the creek. The Greeneck's restoration plan also included the enhancement of three small wetland areas and an area of native grassland restoration. Roughly 2.5 miles from the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge, the site offers excellent stopover habitat for Neotropicals and other migratory birds.

A demonstration day held on September 7th, 2002 featured speakers on Stream Restoration, Direct Seeding Techniques, Prairie Restoration Basics, and Opportunities for Landowners.

This project has been made possible by support from Philip Morris Companies, Inc., Partners for Fish & Wildlife, MN DNR, and contributions from the Greenhecks.

For additional information about Shared Streams, email Drue DeBerry or call (202) 463-2462.