Attachment_F_Final_Tischer_Creek_Roadmap_to_Resilience.pdf

GEI Consultants, Inc.

Tischer Creek Watershed Roadmap to Resilience - Attachment F Submitted to: Submitted by:

Minnesota Department of GEI Consultants, Inc.

Natural Resources 1710 Mall Drive

500 Lafayette Road Duluth, MN 55811

St. Paul, MN 55155

March 2024

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. ii Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Important Note: This document is a companion document to the Tischer Creek Roadmap to

Resilience ArcGIS Hub Site being hosted by the City of Duluth. The Hub Site contains additional features and resources, such as an interactive data exploration tool and project map, while this document contains a greater level of detail related to project development. The Tischer Creek

Roadmap to Resilience Hub Site can be found on the City of Duluth’s Water Resources at the following web address (URL) or by scanning the QR code:

https://nrmp-implementation-projects-duluthmn.hub.arcgis.com/

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

This document was prepared by GEI Consultants, Inc. using federal funds under award GL00E02981 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through the Minnesota Department of Natural

Resources, Division of Fish and Wildlife, Section of Fisheries. The statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

PARTNERS:

City of Duluth

City of Rice Lake

Hartley Nature Center (HNC)

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)

South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD)

United States Environmental Protection Agency – Midwest Ecological Division Lab

University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute

University of Minnesota – Duluth

CONTACTS:

John Lindgren, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (john.lindgren@state.mn.us)

Kate Kubiak, City of Duluth (kkubiak@DuluthMN.gov) https://nrmp-implementation-projects-duluthmn.hub.arcgis.com/

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. iii Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

1. Purpose and Goal of the Roadmap to Resilience 2

2. Overview of Tischer Creek Watershed 3

3. Watershed Planning Framework 6

3.1 EPA Watershed Planning 6

3.2 Watershed Health Assessment Components 7

3.3 Project Types 8

3.3.1 Stormwater 8

3.3.2 Riverscapes 9

3.3.3 Invasive Species 10

3.3.4 Management 10

3.3.5 Study 10

4. Roadmap Process 12

4.1 Build Partnerships 12

4.1.1 Identify Partners 12

4.1.2 Community Outreach 13

4.2 Characterize the Watershed 14

4.2.1 Historical Data and Prior Management Initiatives 14

4.2.2 Geodatabase Compilation 15

4.2.3 Data Gap Identification 15

4.3 Strategy Model 16

4.3.1 Objectives 16

4.3.2 Source of Stressor 17

4.3.3 Stressor 18

4.3.4 Impact 18

4.3.5 Indicators of Measurement 18

4.3.6 Strategy 20

4.4 Project Worksheet Development 21

4.4.1 Resilience Scoring 21

4.4.2 Project Worksheets 21

5. Additional Roadmap Components 23

5.1 Environmental Justice 23

5.1.1 Equity in access to clean water 25

5.1.2 Identifying environmental injustices 25

5.1.3 Cumulative impacts 25

5.2 Policy/Zoning 25

5.2.1 City of Duluth Green Infrastructure Code Audit 25

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. iv Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

5.2.2 Continued Effort 26

6. Recommendations 27

7. References 29

Tables

Table 1: Summary of Objectives for Sources-to-Strategies Model 17

Figures

Figure 1: Tischer Creek Watershed Map 3

Figure 2: Upper Portion of Tischer Creek. Ditch #14 4

Figure 3: Hartley Dam and Impoundment in Middle Watershed 4

Figure 4: Congdon Park in Lower Watershed 5

Figure 5: MNDNR Watershed Health Assessment Framework Components 7

Figure 6: Flooding near Fayre and Howard Gnesen (2023) 8

Figure 7: Green Infrastructure 9

Figure 8: Culvert at West St. Andrews Street 9

Figure 9: Crack Willow causing stream instability on West Tischer 10

Figure 10: Summary of Tischer Creek Roadmap Process 12

Figure 11: Environmental Justice Factors within Tischer Creek Watershed 24

Appendices

A. References for Management and Research

B. References for GIS Database

C. Strategy Model

D. Resilience Score Matrix

E. Project Sheets https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718096 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718097 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718098 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718099 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718101 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718102 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718103 https://geiconsultant.sharepoint.com/sites/2201970_MNDNRTischerCreekWatershed/Shared%20Documents/General/Tischer%20R%20to%20R/Outlin&Structure/Report/Tischer%20R%20to%20R%20Report_1.18.2024.docx#_Toc158718104

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. v Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Acronyms and Abbreviations

BMP Best Management Practices

E. coli Escherichia coli

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

GIS Geographic Information System

MNDNR Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

MPCA Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

MS4 Municipal separate storm sewer system

NRMPP Natural Resources Management Program Plan

Roadmap Roadmap to Resilience

SWCD Soil and Water Conservation District

TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load

UMD University of Minnesota Duluth

WHAF Watershed Health Assessment Framework

WRAPS Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 1 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Executive Summary

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has been working with other local natural resource managers to initiate development of resource management actions at a smaller watershed scale (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 10/12) than the State’s One Watershed One Plan

(1W1P) Program. This process resulted in the selection of Tischer Creek watershed as the focus of the partner-driven Roadmap to Resilience (Roadmap) process. The Tischer Creek Roadmap to

Resilience represents a strategic effort to enhance the health and sustainability of the Tischer

Creek watershed in the face of climate change and increasing human impact. Maintaining consistency with the Clean Water Act, the primary goal of the Roadmap to Resilience is to ensure Tischer Creek is fishable and swimmable now and in the future.

Tischer Creek is a MNDNR Designated Trout Stream and supports a naturally reproducing brook trout population. In addition to impacts from urbanization, impoundment, and ditching, Tischer Creek as impaired for aquatic recreation due to Escherichia coli (E. coli). Despite portions of the watershed having degraded ecological function and E. coli impairment, local resource professionals consider the overall watershed to have a high potential for maintaining coldwater in the face of climate change, which makes it a priority for the focus of efforts to enhance its resilience.

This Roadmap to Resilience adapts the United States Environmental Protection Agency watershed planning guidance and Instream Flow Council’s Watershed Health Components to develop a Strategy Model to identify the watershed stressors and strategies. Informed by a comprehensive array of environmental indicators, this Roadmap to Resilience identifies critical areas of concern within the watershed. It also bridges data gaps and provides a roadmap for future initiatives. The Roadmap process involves: building partnerships with leading agencies, City managers and planners, and the community to identify watershed issues, characterizing the watershed by gathering existing data, analyzing the data, and identifying data gaps, developing a strategy model using the five watershed health components to identify the watershed stressors and strategies, and identifying projects to enhance the watershed's resilience. Projects have been developed and categorized into five key areas of watershed health: Stormwater management, riverscape restoration, invasive species control, management, and study.

This Roadmap to Resilience serves as a management tool, laying the groundwork for a participatory approach, inviting partners to engage in the preservation and enhancement of the watershed. The Roadmap and Strategy Model includes various indicators of measurement to track objective progress, focusing on the critical factors affecting watershed health and resilience. The Roadmap recommendations will help track Roadmap progress and project completion, secure funding, track metrics, promote public outreach and engagement, achieve

NRMPP goals, and support MS4 permitting.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 2 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

1. Purpose and Goal of the Roadmap to Resilience

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) has been working with other local natural resource managers to initiate development of resource management actions at a smaller watershed scale (Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 10/12) than the State’s One Watershed One Plan

(1W1P) Program. Actions developed at the HUC 10/12 scale are intended to be complimentary and supportive of the larger 1W1P. This process resulted in the selection of Tischer Creek watershed as the focus of the partner-driven Roadmap to Resilience (Roadmap) process described in this report. Tischer Creek, located in the Cities of Duluth and Rice Lake, is a unique and valuable resource for the community. Tischer Creek is a MNDNR Designated Trout Stream and supports a naturally reproducing brook trout population. The lower portion of Tischer Creek watershed is heavily urbanized. The middle portion is undeveloped within Hartley Park, while the upper portion is lightly developed, but is substantially impacted by ditching. In addition to impacts from urbanization, impoundment, and ditching, there is also a biological impairment.

Specifically, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) lists Tischer Creek as impaired for aquatic recreation due to Escherichia coli (E. coli). Despite portions of the watershed having degraded ecological function and E. coli impairment, local resource professionals consider the overall watershed to have a high potential for maintaining coldwater in the face of climate change, which makes it a priority for the focus of efforts to enhance its resilience.

As one of the City of Duluth’s premier natural areas, 620 acres within the Tischer Creek watershed has been recognized as the “Hartley Natural Area” (HNA) under the Duluth Natural

Areas Program (DNAP) as part of the Duluth Natural Resources Management Program Plan

(NRMPP). The Roadmap supports the mission of the NRMPP to identify, assess, and invest in the most meaningful tracts of Duluth’s publicly owned open space lands in order to preserve their ecological functions and values, enhance the ecosystem services they provide, and reduce impacts of natural disasters.

A Roadmap for a watershed is a strategic process designed to enhance the ability of a watershed to withstand and recover from disturbances, whether natural or human induced. The Roadmap involves a comprehensive and integrated approach to managing and conserving the natural resources within a watershed to ensure long-term health and sustainability. The Roadmap process involves collating previous planning and research to determine where the sources of stress are within the watershed and identifying resilient projects that mitigate surface water, stormwater, and invasive species stressors and impacts.

Goal of the Roadmap- Work with Tischer Creek watershed partners and community to develop a Roadmap that identifies projects to restore, enhance, and protect the watershed ecosystem to ensure Tischer Creek is fishable and swimmable now and in the future.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 3 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

2. Overview of Tischer Creek Watershed

The following information is a summary of the Tischer Creek Watershed. It is recommended that if looking for an in-depth evaluation of the watershed to review reports that are found in

Appendix A. Specifically, the Geomorphic Characteristics and Classification of Duluth-Area

Streams, Minnesota (USGS, 2006), the Tischer Creek Stream Assessment – Duluth WRAPS

(SWCD, 2016), and the Duluth Urban Area Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan (MPCA, 2020).

The Tischer Creek watershed is in the Cities of Duluth and Rice Lake and covers approximately 7.6 square miles. The watershed contains both the main stem and the West Branch of Tischer Creek, consisting of a combined creek length of approximately

11.2 miles. Tischer Creek is a MNDNR

Designated Trout Stream, and a substantial portion of the watershed is urban and residential land use, which has led to degradation from under-sized culverts, channel incision and aggradation, direct stormwater discharge, impoundments, channelized segments, and invasive species spread. The degradation resulting from anthropogenic impacts to the watershed is the primary factor necessitating the development of this Roadmap (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Tischer Creek Watershed Map

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 4 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

The upper portion of the watershed, located in the southern area of the City of Rice Lake, is predominantly comprised of rural residential housing land use and the Ridgeview Country Club golf course. Tischer Creek has been ditched in this area as part of the County Ditch 14 (Figure

2). The upper portions of the watershed consist of mostly glacial deposits, which is important because till and outwash sediments have unique hydrological properties. The glacial deposits can act as aquifers, storing and transmitting cold groundwater, provide cold baseflow for streams, and provide filtration to help prevent groundwater contamination. This area has the deepest bedrock throughout the whole watershed, which reaches depths greater than 150-ft in some areas.

The middle portion of the watershed consists of a large green space associated with Hartley Park and density residential areas along

Woodland Avenue, and rural residential land use along Howard

Gnesen Road. Tischer Creek flows through Hartley Park where it is impounded by the Hartley dam

(Figure 3). After leaving Hartley

Park, Tischer Creek flows through the residential area along the west side of Woodland Avenue, which is prone to flooding due to the proximity of infrastructure to the creek.

Much of this area contains shallow bedrock (<50-ft), however an area of moderately deep bedrock (50-100-ft) exists in the west central portion of the watershed.

Figure 2: Upper Portion of Tischer Creek. Ditch #14

Figure 3: Hartley Dam and Impoundment in Middle Watershed

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 5 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

In the lower portion of the watershed, the West

Branch of Tischer Creek flows through Bagley

Nature Area and the University of Minnesota

Duluth (UMD) Campus, and then converges with the main stem just upstream of where Tischer

Creek passes through a culvert that flows underneath the intersection of Woodland Avenue and East St. Marie Street. This junction is prone to flooding, as the culvert under Woodland

Avenue is undersized to handle flows during high precipitation events. The lowermost area of the watershed contains denser residential housing in the east hillside of Duluth, as well as Congdon

Park and the Glensheen property. This entire area has exposed bedrock and contains a steep canyon, which runs through Congdon Park

(Figure 4).

Much of Tischer Creek could be classified as an urban stream, impacted by what has been described as urban stream syndrome. Symptoms of the syndrome include a flashy system (i.e., flash floods, a quick pulse of water in the channel during precipitation events), high concentrations of nutrients and contamination (e.g., E. coli impairment), and altered channel morphology and stability (i.e., ditched channels). The study of

Tischer Creek Watershed and the source of stress at the HUC 10/12 scale will produce solutions that are prioritized, targeted, and measurable and will have lasting changes to the resilience of the watershed.

Figure 4: Congdon Park in Lower Watershed

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 6 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

3. Watershed Planning Framework

3.1 EPA Watershed Planning

The federal Clean Water Act requires the MPCA to assess all waters of the state and create a list of impaired waters (i.e., those that fail to meet water quality standards) every two years. This is called the Minnesota Impaired Waters List. In 2020 Tischer Creek was found to have aquatic life recreation use impaired by excessive bacteria (i.e., E. coli concentration). To address the requirements of the Clean Water Act, the Duluth Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy

(WRAPS) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) has outlined the loading capacity, reduction, allocation and wasteload allocation necessary to meet the water quality standard. Targeting the reduction of E. coli is challenging, as it is derived from both point and non-point anthropogenic and natural sources. To help eliminate the anthropogenic sources, there are five municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) permit holders within the City of Duluth and City of Rice

Lake. These MS4 management plans are required to educate and engage the public and reduce pollution directly into the receiving waters by implementing projects and Best Management

Practices (BMPs) on a self-determined timeline. The goals of the MS4 permits pertain to illicit discharge detection and elimination, construction-site runoff controls, and post-construction runoff treatment. The Roadmap provides specific projects that these entities could implement to assist with their strategies and timelines in reducing bacteria within the watershed and meeting their MS4 permit requirements.

To facilitate meeting the requirements of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) has developed six steps for effective watershed management that encompass the nine key elements of the Clean Water Act section 319 in the Handbook for Developing

Watershed Plans to Restore and Protect our Waters (EPA, 2008). The Roadmap has adapted the first three steps in the watershed planning and implementation process: Step 1. Build

Partnerships, Step 2: Characterize the Watershed, Step 3: Finalize Goals and Identify Solutions as follows:

Step 1: MNDNR built partnerships by identifying participants from federal agencies to private citizens that agreed to participate in the Roadmap process. Participants were a part of any one of the following teams: Executive Team, Outreach Team, Stormwater Team, Riverscape Team, Policy Team, Geographic Information System (GIS)/Data Team, and City of Rice Lake Team.

These participants are either responsible for implementing the Roadmap, affected by the implementation of the Roadmap, are experts on the issues and existing resources, or can provide technical assistance in developing and implementing the Roadmap.

Step 2: Partners were engaged to help characterize the watershed by compiling existing data, identifying known issues of concern within the watershed, and identifying data gaps. This was completed by reviewing previous management plans, creating a geodatabase of existing data, working group meetings, and site visits. Reviewing all the data spatially helped identify causes and sources of impairments within the watershed.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 7 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Step 3: The Roadmap finalized goals and identified solutions by developing a Strategy Model that identifies the watershed objectives, sources of stressors, impact of those stressors, indicators of measurement, and the strategies to meet the watershed objectives. Through this process, 89 stormwater, riverscape, invasive species, management, and study projects were identified. Of the identified projects, 35 projects, if implemented, would meet the goal of delisting the designated

E. coli impairment to water quality.

The Ticher Creek Roadmap process adapted from the EPA watershed planning and implementation process is described in more detail in Section 4.

3.2 Watershed Health Assessment Components

The Tischer Creek Roadmap applied the Instream Flow Council’s five components of watershed health to evaluate the watershed's resilience through the components of biology, connectivity, geomorphology, hydrology, and water quality. By evaluating the Tischer Creek watershed through these components, locations are identified where these components are undergoing stress throughout the watershed. This process allows for the identification of sources of stress and projects that could be completed throughout the watershed to restore or improve watershed components and result in a more resilient watershed. The MNDNR incorporated the Instream

Flow Council’s five components of watershed health into the Watershed Health Assessment

Framework (WHAF). The Five Components of Watershed Health as described by the MNDNR

WHAF are included in Figure 5.

Figure 5: MNDNR Watershed Health Assessment Framework Components

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 8 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

3.3 Project Types

To develop a holistic management approach to the Roadmap, spatial data analysis was framed within the structure of the five watershed health components and the Strategy Model. Eventually, projects were developed systematically across the watershed. The resulting projects, reflective of the data-driven approach, were organized into distinct categories: stormwater, riverscape, invasive species, management, and study. The stormwater category encompasses initiatives designed to manage runoff and mitigate its effects, while riverscape projects focus on restoring and maintaining riparian zones and aquatic habitats. Projects under the invasive species category are tailored to control or eradicate non-native species threatening native populations and systems.

Management projects are oriented toward governance and policy interventions for sustainable watershed stewardship. Lastly, study projects are to fill knowledge gaps and foster adaptive management strategies based on scientific inquiry.

The detailed description of these project types, defined in the following sections, provides comprehensive insights into the scope and objectives. This structured categorization facilitates a clearer understanding of potential interventions and serves as a roadmap for partners to navigate and contribute to expertise.

3.3.1 Stormwater

Stormwater is rainwater and snowmelt that accumulates on the ground due to precipitation. When stormwater flows across the ground, it picks up sediment, debris, and chemicals and carries them to the nearest water body. Pollutants from motor vehicles and road salts on impervious surfaces like paved roads and parking lots are transported by stormwater into streams and lakes.

Additionally, stormwater moves quickly over these impervious surfaces due to the flat and smooth surface, which can result in higher severity and frequency of floods. These surfaces also do not allow water to soak into the ground and recharge groundwater aquifers, resulting in decreased base flow in nearby streams. As the Tischer watershed has become more urbanized, the development of impervious surfaces has altered the way that stormwater moves through the area. Figure 6 is a photo of

Tischer Creek flooding in the City of Rice Lake during the Spring of 2023.

Figure 6: Flooding near Fayre and Howard Gnesen (2023)

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 9 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

As awareness of these issues has increased, stormwater infrastructure has changed to reduce or eliminate the negative impacts from traditional systems through the implementation of green infrastructure.

Green infrastructure is a water management practice which protects, restores, or mimics the natural water cycle (Figure 7). When implemented thoughtfully, green infrastructure results in effective and economical water management that improves environmental health and enhances community safety and quality of life.

The stormwater projects identified within the Tischer Creek Roadmap to Resilience aim to improve stormwater management within the Tischer watershed by repairing degraded stormwater infrastructure, evaluating, and upgrading existing stormwater controls, and constructing green infrastructure.

3.3.2 Riverscapes

A riverscape consists of landscape features along rivers and streams. Riverscape features can be natural (meanders, beaver dams, floodplains) or man-made (berms, constructed channels, dams). The natural and man-made riverscape features determine how water is conveyed through the stream system and control the system connectivity. As the Tischer watershed has been developed, many man-made riverscape features have been constructed, including concrete slabs, dams, retaining walls, culverts, and ditched channel segments (Figure 8). Introducing these man-made features often results in disconnects within the system and offsets the system's balance. For example, culverts that are not appropriately sized can cause barriers to migration of fish and other aquatic organisms and disruptions to sediment transport downstream.

The riverscape projects identified within the Tischer Creek Roadmap to Resilience aim to restore the natural riverscape function and connectivity through improvement or removal of existing man-made features.

Figure 8: Culvert at West St. Andrews Street

Figure 7: Green Infrastructure https://www.americanrivers.org/what-is-green-infrastructure/#:~:text=Green%20infrastructure%20is%20an%20approach,costly%20new%20water%20treatment%20plant.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 10 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

3.3.3 Invasive Species

A healthy native ecosystem within a watershed is dynamic and boasts high biodiversity and species richness. However, introducing invasive, non-native aquatic, and terrestrial plant species outside of their natural range can result in situations where the invasive species can out-compete native species, resulting in reduced biodiversity and species richness. Similarly, invasive species can have significant implications for watershed health as their ability to stabilize stream banks or remove pollutants may be reduced compared to native plant species.

Figure 9 is a photo of Crack Willow causing narrowing, aggradation, and fish barriers within West

Tischer Creek.

The invasive species projects identified within the

Tischer Creek Roadmap to Resilience aim to identify locations of invasive, non-native species populations, develop treatment plans to eradicate invasive species populations, and restore and improve native plant biological diversity and richness throughout the watershed.

3.3.4 Management

Management projects for enhancing watershed resilience are not only diverse, but also integral to maintaining ecological balance and supporting the community. These projects vary significantly in their objectives and scope, encompassing everything from the development and execution of citizen science initiatives to the meticulous, long-term stewardship of Hartley Park’s trails and ecosystem. The variability of these projects means they can range from singular, one-time actions to comprehensive, evolving management plans designed for incremental improvement over extended periods. Examples of management projects include, the potential acquisition of flood-properties along the West Branch and the restoration of Ditch #14, necessitate a thorough investigation and a clear, step-by-step process for implementation. These strategies, therefore, are not just about management water resources; they’re about adapting to and mitigation the impacts of climate change, fostering biodiversity, and protecting the community.

3.3.5 Study

Study projects are designed to learn about specific areas or problems in locations where project partners have identified complex issues that severely impact the Tischer watershed's health and resilience. The study projects consist of intensive investigations necessary for identifying and selecting an appropriate resilience strategy.

Figure 9: Crack Willow causing stream instability on West Tischer

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 11 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

The entities involved with the studies will include University of Minnesota – Duluth, the Natural

Resource Research Institute (NRRI), Sea Grant, MPCA, MNDNR, and the Hartley Nature

Center (HNC). For example, UMD is interested in the effectiveness of techniques such as biochar basins used as green infrastructure and would like to evaluate water quality pre- and post- project conditions. The NRRI has been collecting water quality data throughout the watershed utilizing Citizen Scientists. The Hartley Nature Center is also another agency that is committed to collecting data to measure the identified metrics withing the Roadmap. The City of

Duluth also has discussed the potential stormshed analysis, which would delineate the drainage area that goes beyond mere topographic drainage areas, involving a more nuanced understanding of stormwater management and associate infrastructure to better understand sources of non-point contamination.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 12 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

4. Roadmap Process

The Tischer Creek Roadmap has been developed by adapting elements of the EPA’s watershed planning guidance and the Instream Flow Council’s five components of watershed health. This involves:

• Building partnerships with participants and the community to identify watershed issues

• Characterizing the watershed by gathering existing data, analyzing the data, and identifying data gaps

• Developing a strategy model using the five components to identify the watershed stressors and strategies

• Identifying projects to enhance the watershed's resilience

Figure 10: Summary of Tischer Creek Roadmap Process

4.1 Build Partnerships

4.1.1 Identify Partners

The concept of completing a watershed planning effort at the HUC 10/12 scale, which would come to be called roadmap to resilience, was first conceived by an inter-agency/partner group called “The Breakfast Club”. The Breakfast Club began meeting in approximately 2018 and had representation from the MNDNR, MPCA, South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District

(SWCD), Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources, City of Duluth, Minnesota Trout https://www.epa.gov/nps/handbook-developing-watershed-plans-restore-and-protect-our-waters https://www.epa.gov/nps/handbook-developing-watershed-plans-restore-and-protect-our-waters https://www.instreamflowcouncil.org/resources/

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 13 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Unlimited, and the Izaak Walton League. The rational was that, although 1W1P is the official program for managing large Minnesota watersheds, achieving prioritized, targeted and measurable outcomes is most appropriately achieved at a smaller scale. Working on high-priority sub watershed was intended to be complimentary to the overall goals of 1W1P. As an outcome of the Breakfast Club process, the MNDNR partnered with the City of Duluth to apply a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative award to the completion of the Tischer Watershed Roadmap to Resilience. A multidisciplinary team of researchers, federal, state, and local government staff, non-profit organization members, and community members agreed to assist with the development of the Tischer Creek Roadmap. These partners are responsible for implementing the Roadmap, affected by the implementation of the Roadmap, or can provide technical assistance in developing and implementing the Roadmap. Partners participated in the development of the Roadmap as part of the following teams: Executive Team, Outreach Team, Stormwater Team, Riverscape Team, Policy Team, GIS/Data Team, and City of Rice Lake

Team. Team members participated in technical meetings, field trips, guidance reviews, and final product reviews. Partners that have participated in this process are listed below:

1854 Treaty Authority

Arrowhead Fly Fishers

Citizen Representatives

City of Duluth Planning Department

City of Duluth Public Works

City of Rice Lake

Duluth Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area

Hartley Nature Center

Izaak Walton League

Lake Superior Headwaters Sustainability Partnership

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Land Trust

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Minnesota Sea Grant

Minnesota Trout Unlimited

University of Minnesota’s Natural Resource Research Institute

South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District

St. Louis County Public Works

United States Environmental Pollution Control Agency

University of Minnesota – Duluth

4.1.2 Community Outreach

The goal of the public engagement process for the Roadmap was to define opportunities for the general public and surrounding neighborhoods to consider how they may be able to work with

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 14 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

City of Duluth, City of Rice Lake, and natural resource professionals as stewards for repairing and nurturing lands in the watershed. This goal was accomplished by defining pathways to establish connections with residents, neighborhood/recreational groups, and the public and by supporting public outreach meetings to engage with the above groups within the Cities of Duluth and Rice Lake.

The pathway to establish connections with residents, neighborhood/recreational groups, and the public will be accomplished through the development of an ArcGIS Hub Site. An ArcGIS Hub

Site is a cloud-based engagement platform that organizes people, data, and tools to accomplish initiatives and goals. The Tischer Creek Roadmap Hub Site will be hosted on the City of

Duluth’s website. The Hub Site will include background information, a data exploration tool, Roadmap project interactive map, and supporting documentation. The Hub Site will engage residents of the Tischer Creek watershed by providing information on the stressors that impact the watershed health components, identifying projects in their neighborhood, and keeping them informed on the progress toward resilience. Hopefully, the Roadmap Hub Site will inform and inspire residents to independently manage their property to reduce or eliminate sources of stress to the watershed.

During the development of the Roadmap, public outreach was completed to engage with citizens in Duluth and Rice Lake. During this process, we met the public to gather information on what the community thinks of their watershed. Places included the Glensheen Mansion's Wednesday

Summer Nights Concert on the Pier and the City of Rice Lake’s Neighborhood Night Out.

Additional public outreach and input may be accomplished by providing comments through the

Hub Site.

4.2 Characterize the Watershed

Characterizing the watershed by gathering existing data, analyzing the data, and identifying data gaps provides the basis for developing the Strategy Model to meet WHAF component objectives.

4.2.1 Historical Data and Prior Management Initiatives

The Roadmap has been developed by integrating historical environmental studies and research specific to this watershed and from a broader regional perspective. The data was collected using the WHAF five component categories (biology, connectivity, geomorphology, hydrology, and water quality). This strategic collation of data has created a comprehensive knowledge base crucial for understanding current watershed management strategies and the health of the watershed using a holistic approach. The core of the Roadmap is underpinned by collating detailed environmental and ecological data, that provide a greater understanding of previous efforts in the watershed. The key to this process has been the application of GIS data, which is essential for spatially analyzing impacts of identified sources and stresses, collating existing data, and identifying previously unrecognized issues within the watershed. This foundational work, rooted in historical research and management plans, positions the Roadmap to devise an

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 15 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources advanced strategy that not only confronts current challenges but also preemptively identifies potential overlooked concerns in the watershed's management.

In addition to the data collation, various field trips were organized involving multiple partners.

The field trips were pivotal in documenting known stressors and identifying projects within the watershed that might have eluded previous documentation efforts. During these field trips, participants observed firsthand the impacts of specific stressors, ranging from land use practices to invasive species impacts. They also identified ongoing and past projects and discussed what worked well and lessons learned. This hands-on approach facilitated a more nuanced understanding of the watershed's ecological and environmental challenges and fostered a collaborative spirit among partners. The insights gained from these field trips have been instrumental in filling critical information gaps and enriching the overall data and perspectives integrated into the Roadmap.

Research, data, and goals relative to the Tischer Creek watershed were collected from 32 management plans that are summarized in Appendix A.

4.2.2 Geodatabase Compilation

To spatially analyze the data in a comprehensive evaluation, the compiled data was mapped relative to the five critical component categories: biology, connectivity, geomorphology, hydrology, and water quality. This endeavor led to the creation of five distinct maps dedicated to a specific aspect of the watershed’s health. These maps serve as a visual synthesis of the data, articulating the watershed issues regarding biological diversity, landscape connectivity, geomorphological features, hydrology, and water quality parameters. The maps became tools for identifying and contextualizing stressors and targeting strategies to mitigate these pressures and bolster the watershed’s climate resilience.

The data featured on these maps was primarily sourced from public repositories, such as the

Minnesota Geospatial Commons, and is augmented by insights from watershed-specific documents. An interactive map was developed on the Hub Site to facilitate user engagement and data transparency, allowing users to interact with the spatial data. Upon selecting a feature, users can access metadata and condensed data source information via pop-ups, providing an immediate understanding of the data’s origin and context. A comprehensive list of reference reports is cataloged to underscore the data’s provenance and to support further investigations by interested parties.

Approximately seventy-five GIS data resources were used in the mapping exercise of the project and are summarized in Appendix B.

4.2.3 Data Gap Identification

A critical step in developing the Roadmap is identifying data gaps that can impact the understanding of the watershed and decision-making process. Despite the extensive array of

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 16 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources historical environmental studies and GIS data available, specific areas within the watershed remain under-researched or lack comprehensive data. These gaps range from locations of brook trout spawning redds to impacts from non-native crack willow on stream geomorphology. To help fill data gaps, studies were developed as actionable projects and will be vital in creating a more effective and holistic Roadmap. The studies that we have identified include evaluating the conditions in and around Ditch 14, conducting E. coli testing during different weather and precipitation conditions, understanding the impact of crack willow on streams over time, and conducting a stormshed analysis within the City of Duluth to better understand where non-point sources are originating. Roadmap implementation will likely identify additional data gaps that will need to be addressed to better understand the watershed and support watershed resilience,

4.3 Strategy Model

A Strategy Model was developed to help focus management efforts and provide a more systematic approach to identify strategies and projects making the process less random. The

Strategy Model identifies issues of concern within the watershed related to the overall goal of restoring, enhancing, and protecting the watershed ecosystem and identifies strategies to address the issues of concern. The Strategy Model is a graphical representation to visually display the stressors and sources of stress that have been identified throughout the Tischer Creek watershed through the development of the Roadmap. The model is organized into a hierarchy which analyzes the watershed stressors in the context of the sources of stress, the impact of the stress, and the indicator or measurement of stress, and suggests strategies which could be implemented to meet watershed restoration and resilience objectives. The Strategy Model process chart is included in Appendix C.

4.3.1 Objectives

The Strategy Model was initially developed by reviewing all the watershed management plans and research reports relative to Tischer Creek. The objectives outlined in the management plans were collated and reviewed to identify objectives that overlapped, could become more robust or applied specifically to Tischer Creek. This review also identified additional objectives that had not been identified in previous plans. The Tischer Creek Roadmap objectives were organized using the WHAF five components to ensure that the objectives encompass the natural resource conditions of the watershed. Table 1 provides the list of objectives that were used within the

Roadmap.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 17 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Table 1: Summary of Objectives for Sources-to-Strategies Model

4.3.2 Source of Stressor

The Roadmap Strategy Model attempts to address all the sources and causes of watershed stressors and threats including the sources of the immediate stress but also any stressors that need to be addressed to ensure the resilience of the watershed that may be a result of future development or land use. Some of the sources of stressors in the Tischer Creek watershed include urban development, introduction of invasive species, direct stormwater discharge, Biology Objectives

Increase high-quality native vegetation and plant communities

Control non-native, invasives

Improve and protect riparian forest habitat

Improve brook trout habitat

Improve and protect coldwater inputs to support coldwater fish and invertebrate assemblages

Protect upland habitat from fragmentation

Connectivity Objectives

Temporal: Enhance resilience of native ecosystems for the future

Vertical: maximize and protect groundwater quality and capacity

Lateral: Reconnect incised channels to floodplains for better sediment and nutrient processing

Longitudinal: Restore stream and floodplain longitudinal connectivity and continuity for aquatic organism and sediment transport

Geomorphology Objectives

Restore and protect ecological function and habitat diversity in unstable stream channel reaches, by prioritizing restoration with an emphasis on reconnecting streams to floodplains and restoring a stable form to impacted reaches

Hydrology Objectives

Reduce runoff rates and maintain or increase groundwater infiltration

Restore a more natural hydrologic regime where possible

Water Quality Objectives

Delist designated E. coli impairments to water quality

Maintain or decrease water temperature

Reduce excess sediment loading

Reduce impacts of non-delisted impairments to water quality (e.g., chloride and nutrients)

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 18 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources ditching, dam/embankments, improperly sized culverts, and unstable stream channels. The full list of sources of stress is included in the Strategy Model in Appendix C

4.3.3 Stressor

A stressor is a physical, chemical, or biological condition that causes stress to the watershed, river, and the organisms within the ecosystem. Stressor identification is essential because it allows for designing and implementing more effective restoration and protection strategies. The

Strategy Model identifies stressors that are created from recognized sources. These stressors include a lack of shade, decreased dissolved oxygen levels, increased rate of runoff and peak flows, and a lowered water table. The full list of stressors is included in the Strategy Model in

Appendix C.

4.3.4 Impact

The stressors within a watershed cause an impact to the watershed health and resilience. Impacts are generally related to pathogens, metals, nutrients, sediment, and temperature. The full list of impacts is included in the Strategy Model in Appendix C.

4.3.5 Indicators of Measurement

The Strategy Model includes various indicators and measurement to inform each objective, focusing on the critical factors affecting watershed health and resilience. The following metrics have been included within the Strategy Model as indicators and should be used to monitor the watershed's health and to measure if an objective is met.

The indicators and measurements identified below are listed by metrics that are publicly accessible and annually collected to metrics that have yet to be collected. The MPCA data* is collected annually and could be used to initially determine if water quality objectives are being met. It is recommended that the annual data is updated and populated to the Hub Site maps so that measurement of progress and success can be analyzed. Because many of these metrics are not being analyzed annually, it is recommended that initiative be taken during project development and implementation to include indicators that are not being measured annually in a monitoring program to measure the success of the project goals.

*E. Coli: Measures the presence of E. coli bacteria in the water, which is an indicator of fecal contamination, typically from wastewater infrastructure, and is a potential health risks to humans and animals.

Existing Data: Burns and McDonnell conducted a baseline study was conducted and sourced the E. coli bacteria for Tischer Creek Watershed (2020).

Existing Data: MPCA Surface Water Stations (1996-2022).

*Dissolved Oxygen (DO): DO is critical for the respiration of brook trout. Low levels, often caused by water temperature increases or algal blooms, can be detrimental to their survival.

Existing Data: MPCA Surface Water Stations (1996-2022).

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 19 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

*Chloride: Chloride levels can become elevated due to road salt runoff, which is toxic to aquatic life. It's important to monitor to ensure the salinity remains within the tolerable range for brook trout.

Existing Data: MPCA Surface Water Stations (2008-2022).

Total Suspended Solids (TSS): High TSS can reduce water clarity, which affects the ability of brook trout to feed, and can smother eggs and aquatic insects that serve as food sources.

Existing Data: MPCA River TSS Standards (2021).

Water Temperature: Brook trout require cold, well-oxygenated water, typically below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Monitoring water temperature is crucial, as higher temperatures can lead to stress and mortality.

Existing Data: MNDNR conducted longitudinal (2021) and discrete temperature measurements (2022).

Biological Integrity: The presence and health of brook trout populations are indicators of watershed biological integrity, as they are sensitive to pollution and habitat change.

Existing Data: MPCA Surface Water Stations (2008-2022), MNDNR Tischer Creek

Temperature and trout catch data (2021).

Percent Impervious Surface: Impervious surfaces can lead to increased runoff and thermal and chemical pollution, disrupting the hydrological and thermal regimes of Tischer

Creek.

Existing Data: USGS NLCD Land Cover (2021), USGS NLCD 2001-2021

Impervious Surface.

Invasive Species Inventory: Invasive species can cause channel degradation and choke out native species.

Existing Data: EDDMaps.

Soils Mapping: Soil types can influence the water chemistry and sediment rates of streams, affecting the geomorphology of streams if erosion is susceptible.

Existing Data: Natural Resource Conservation Service Soil Survey.

Bank Height Ratio: Stable banks with a balanced height ratio support the structural integrity of the stream and its ability to support diverse in-stream habitats, including those suitable for brook trout spawning.

Existing Data: An input for the Bank Assessment for Nonpoint Source Consequences of Sediment (BANCS) Model conducted by SWCD (2016-2107).

Percent of dam barriers addressed: Dams can block migration routes and alter stream temperatures and flows. Addressing these barriers can restore brook trout access to spawning and rearing habitats, and coldwater refugia.

GEI CONSULTANTS, INC. 20 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Existing Data: Tischer Creek Wraps identified that 55% of stream crossings within the watershed were barriers (SWCD, 2016). This data set should be updated.

Percent Wetlands within Watershed: Wetlands can act as natural filters, improving water quality and providing important habitat for prey species of brook trout.

Existing Data: National Wetlands Inventory provides shapefiles of the wetlands.

Identifying additional areas of wetland restoration or preservation would be beneficial.

Groundwater…