Project Contact
Steve Young
Headwaters TU President
youngs@paulbunyan.net
Project Description
Lawndale Creek is a rare, spring fed, naturally reproducing prairie brook trout stream located in Wilkin County just south of Breckinridge, Minnesota. It arises from boiling springs in the Rothsay Wildlife Management Area and flows generally westerly toward the Red River. The project would involve the restoration of about 3.5 miles of stream that is currently in legal ditch in the Atherton Wildlife Management Area (sections 34 and 35 of Atherton Township). Atherton WMA lies within one of Minnesota's largest surviving prairie complexes, and the MNDNR County Biological Survey has classified it as a site of "High Biodiversity Significance." The Nature Conservancy has recognized Lawndale Creek as an "area of biological significance." Both Wilkin County and the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District support the project.
The entire creek was at one time a designated trout stream, but now the designation ends immediately upstream of the project reach. However, brook trout in excess of 2.5 pounds have been sampled in recent years both above and below the project area. Extensive water temperature monitoring was conducted in 2005, and temperatures in the project reach were found to be well within the suitable range for brook trout. The historic channel is largely filled with sediment and would need to be reconstructed to the appropriate dimension and pattern. In addition to restoring valuable trout habitat, the project would return the historic hydrology and water table in the WMA, benefiting the plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that depend on this prairie wetland ecosystem. It would also provide flood storage benefiting downstream flood prone areas.
Project Partners
The project is a collaboration of the Minnesota DNR, the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (which will provide in-kind services for ditch improvement and some project management), and Trout Unlimited.
Steve Young
Headwaters TU President
youngs@paulbunyan.net
Project Description
Lawndale Creek is a rare, spring fed, naturally reproducing prairie brook trout stream located in Wilkin County just south of Breckinridge, Minnesota. It arises from boiling springs in the Rothsay Wildlife Management Area and flows generally westerly toward the Red River. The project would involve the restoration of about 3.5 miles of stream that is currently in legal ditch in the Atherton Wildlife Management Area (sections 34 and 35 of Atherton Township). Atherton WMA lies within one of Minnesota's largest surviving prairie complexes, and the MNDNR County Biological Survey has classified it as a site of "High Biodiversity Significance." The Nature Conservancy has recognized Lawndale Creek as an "area of biological significance." Both Wilkin County and the Buffalo-
The entire creek was at one time a designated trout stream, but now the designation ends immediately upstream of the project reach. However, brook trout in excess of 2.5 pounds have been sampled in recent years both above and below the project area. Extensive water temperature monitoring was conducted in 2005, and temperatures in the project reach were found to be well within the suitable range for brook trout. The historic channel is largely filled with sediment and would need to be reconstructed to the appropriate dimension and pattern. In addition to restoring valuable trout habitat, the project would return the historic hydrology and water table in the WMA, benefiting the plants, birds, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles that depend on this prairie wetland ecosystem. It would also provide flood storage benefiting downstream flood prone areas.
Project Partners
The project is a collaboration of the Minnesota DNR, the Buffalo-
