September 2010 Update:
The installation of large woody cover, rock veining and other in-stream habitat work was completed in August 2010. Tree planting, fencing and invasive species removal will be done in May and June of 2011. Minnesota Trout Unlimited and the Gitche Gumee Chapter of TU are looking for more volunteers to assist with this last piece of the project. Because we have succeeded in leveraging federal funds on the project (including USDA Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program [WHIP] and the US Fish and Wildlife Service) we anticipate extending the tree planting downstream into other reaches of the river now dominated by invasive reed canary grass. We are working closely with MNDNR Fisheries personnel to identify the highest priority areas for tree planting. Planting must wait until the frost is out of the ground next May. Planting will occur only on lands protected by easements, which easements also guarantee angler access.
A forest stewardship plan is currently being implemented on the surrounding parcel of land. The in-stream and riparian habitat plan, devised by Interfluve with input from the MNDNR and Trout Unlimited, will allow for monitoring of the success of the habitat improvement features of the project. Under this plan, both trout populations and physical habitat characteristics were initially assessed and will be monitored over time. Physical assessment of the Sucker River's geomorphologic conditions is being conducted by UMD Geology Professor Karen Gran. Cross-sectional studies will be conducted again to assess a wide variety of parameters in sixteen locations in the habitat improvement section. Funding for this ongoing research has been provided by UMD's Center for Community and Regional Research. The Minnesota DNR’s Duluth Area Fisheries office will repeat fish population assessments, using pre-project assessments done in August 2009 as a benchmark. Clink on the link below for additional details of the in-stream work. View the Site Plan.
Partners - This project has been made possible by many dedicated partners. The expertise of heavy equipment operators from Darrel D. Johnson Excavating, Inc, and Mike Zauhar Logging were invaluable. Interfluve provided on-site construction supervision that was essential to accurate placement of all habitat structures. Special thanks to the MNDNR and the landowner, Namebini, for their considerable contributions to the project! Most importantly, thanks to Minnesota voters and taxpayers, the Minnesota Legislature and the Lessard-Sams Outdoor
Heritage Council for their wisdom in funding the protection, restoration and enhancement of habitat on this and other coldwater
streams, rivers and lakes!