Category Overview
The State Lands Restoration and Enhancement category provides funding to two state agencies to help repair damaged plant and animal habitat. These grants focus on resource preservation and protection of public lands. Projects in this category help bring important natural areas and resources back to their original functions by improving the self sustaining and ecological functionality of sites.
Project Highlights
This project restored hydrologic function and fish passage where freshwater streams enter the estuary of Andrew’s Creek, within the Elk River NRCA. The Andrew’s Creek “West Road” was abandoned, which dead ends on the NRCA and did not affect nearby landowners. On this road four fish passage barriers were removed and associated streams and wetlands restored to for fish habitat and approximate natural function. Native trees, shrubs and sedges were replanted in disturbed soil where fill was removed and on more open portions of the ripped roadway. “Geojute” erosion blankets were used extensively on steeper banks along with hundreds of bales of long lasting woodstraw to cover exposed soil. Up to 20 non-fish bearing culverts were also removed. The estuary fill removal planned for 2010 did not occur because the project was cancelled. Complete engineered drawings are available for the estuary restoration if this work gains support in the future.