The Rice Creek Meander
re-establishing a stream's natural path and hydrology
The Rice Creek Meander project represents one of the largest stream restoration projects ever undertaken in Minnesota. Over ¾ of a mile of Rice Creek, presumably straightened in the early 1900’s for agricultural drainage purposes, was restored to a stable natural meandering flow path.
Through the use of extensive fluvial geomorphology investigations and detailed cost-benefit analysis, EOR was able to restore stability to this reach and re-establish adjacent floodplain wetland hydrology.
Hallmarks of this project include:
- improved stability and water quality
- reconnection of stream to its historic floodplain
- wetland habitat enhancement provided via native restoration and floodplain restoration
- instream habitat creation provided via restoration of pools/riffle sequence
- enhanced canoeing and park-user experience
- environmental education of stream ecology and geomorphology
- extensive local coverage in the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, Outdoor News, and featured on the television series Minnesota Bound
Located entirely within Rice Creek North Regional Trail Corridor, a County Park that is surrounded by rapidly developing communities, EOR’s Meander Restoration project returned this jewel to park users and the region. The natural pre-agrarian stream ecosystem indigenous to this area is now inherent with its every twist and turn. Completed in 2006, the calculated engineering and construction activity has already become transparent to canoe enthusiasts, bird watchers, fishermen and park users.