Online Public Meeting Opportunity The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources are hosting an online public meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the upcoming Perch Lake habitat restoration project and Hwy 23 road project and in the New Duluth area. This meeting will include a presentation on both projects and time for questions. It is virtual and can be accessed by clicking here. To join the meeting by phone instead, please dial 855-282-6330. Meeting code is 2491 665 9032.
For those unable to attend the meeting, a recording will be posted to the MnDOT website to be viewed when convenient.
Perch Lake project
The DNR-led Perch Lake project is scheduled for 2022, ahead of the MnDOT 2023 project.
Minnesota DNR and the Minnesota Land Trust are working together to restore fish and wildlife habitat at Perch Lake. This work is part of a greater effort to mitigate historic impacts to habitat in the St. Louis River under the Great Lakes Area of Concern Program. Perch Lake was once a bay of the St. Louis River estuary. The construction of the railroad and U.S. Hwy 23 embankments nearly eliminated this connection. Now, only a shallow 4-ft wide culvert provides connection, drastically reducing water circulation, sediment transport and fish access. As a result, Perch Lake has low oxygen levels, shallow depths, and limited access for fish and wildlife. To address these impairments, the project’s goals include:
Remove accumulated sediment
Increase circulation between the estuary and Perch Lake
Repave two miles of Hwy 23 from Hwy 39 in Gary New Duluth to 5th Street near Mission Creek.
Summary of work
Pavement resurfacing
Culvert repair
Guardrail replacement
ADA improvements
For More Information
If you are interested in learning more about DNR’s work in the St. Louis River estuary, please visit the St. Louis River Restoration Initiative webpage at: St. Louis River Restoration Initiative
For More Information: Renee Samuelson, Admin. Specialist, renee.samuelson@state.mn.us, or 218-302-3252. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
