Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD), along with local, state, and federal partners, is undertaking a major restoration of the Minnehaha Falls and Glen area. This multifaceted project involves streambank and historic wall stabilization, trail improvements, and stormwater management.

Dakota People at Minnehaha Falls, 1857                                          Minnehaha Falls

Courtesy of Minnesota Historical Society                                            By Jeff Mills

Project Summary

Why did the project happen?

In short, the project is happening because the area has degraded over time. Structural failures, erosion problems, stormwater management issues, and other problems threaten historic, cultural, and natural resources in the Minnehaha Falls and Glen area and at the Minnesota Veteran's Home.

What did the project involve?

The project takes a variety of approaches to fix the existing problems including:

• stabilizing streambanks and bluffs around the creek 
• installing rock vanes and toe boulders in the creek
• managing invasive species and reforesting the area
• constructing trails and walkways
• protecting historical and cultural resources
• managing stormwater throughout the site
  

There are two main project components:

• stormwater management at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home
• restoration of the Minnehaha Falls and Glen area

Minnesota Veteran's Home

New stormwater management practices will be put into place at the Minnesota Veteran’s Home. Erosion problems will be repaired and stormwater directed into a new rain garden. Innovative best management practices (BMPs) such as rain gardens, porous concrete, and infiltration areas will be used to manage stormwater on the site. Traditional stormwater structures such as storm sewer and curb and gutter will be either removed or used to redirect stormwater into the new innovative BMPs.

Minnehaha Creek

The second part of the project is in and along Minnehaha Creek, near Minnehaha Falls and in the area below the falls (Minnehaha Glen). The creek and glen repair will include adding retaining walls for stabilization, removing slumped concrete crib walls, adding bridge abutment protection, and bio-engineering the bank for added stabilization. Revitalizing the trail system is another major component along Minnehaha Creek. Some improvements include replacing part of the trail with an elevated boardwalk with metal decking, stabilizing stair systems, adding aggregate to the trail to slow erosion and improve “walkability”, and preventing erosion in areas with steep slopes. Vegetation restoration will be done next to the falls; however, no restoration of the falls will be taking place.  

Where did the project take place?
There are two areas of the project. The first is Minnesota Veteran’s Home located at 5101 Minnehaha Avenue South in Minneapolis. The second is along Minnehaha Creek starting where Minnehaha Avenue crosses over Minnehaha Creek, and ending where Minnehaha Creek enters the Mississippi River.

Who are the project partners/contractors?

A unique partnership between several organizations has brought the project to life.

• Minnehaha Creek Watershed District 
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
• State of Minnesota Veteran's Home 
• Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board 
• State of Minnesota

When did the project start?

The ground breaking ceremony was Friday, November 21, 2008 at Minnehaha Falls Park, 4901 Minnehaha Avenue, Minneapolis. Construction began in December 2008.

How long did the project take?

Major earth work occurred in the winter of 2008-2009 with revegetation work throughout the site during the spring and summer of 2010.

History of the Project

The  MCWD conducted a feasibility-level investigation of problems and issues related to water resources with the area at the outlet of the watershed known as the Minnehaha Glen or Minnehaha Falls area.  The proposed project utilizes the expertise and resources of a number of different project partners including the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, the City of Minneapolis, the State of Minnesota Veterans Home, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The general goal of the project is to improve the natural resources within the Glen area through development and implementation of a plan detailing measures addressing stormwater management, streambank and bluff stabilization and ecological restoration.

In 2004 MCWD conducted a comprehensive Stream Assessment along Minnehaha Creek which identifies several specific issues of concern within the park limits including:

• Erosion and undercutting of streambanks near Works Progress Administration (WPA) retaining walls and bridge abutments downstream of Minnehaha Falls

• Erosion of streambank areas in conjunction with the presence of footpaths; recommended relocation of

• Need for maintenance of the forested riparian corridor to preserve aquatic and terrestrial habitat quality footpaths and 25-foot buffer

A major storm event in the fall of 2005 resulted in streambank failures at two separate locations exacerbating existing problems:

1. Works Progress Administration (WPA) retaining walls at the base of Minnehaha Falls are severely undercut throughout the reach and have collapsed in a portion of the reach directly downstream of the falls.
2. Rock gabion stabilization on streambank property near the confluence owned by the Minnesota Veterans Home was undercut and collapsed.

MCWD has divided the project into three separate categories based on location within the park and function of the features in the landscape.  Each category requires different degrees of investigation

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

As noted above, the existing WPA walls downstream of Minnehaha Falls have collapsed into the creek in one specific area and have been severely compromised structurally throughout the remaining reaches of the park.  MCWD and MPRB have issued a joint-resolution to seek Federal assistance from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to facilitate the design and construction of restoration effort for these walls.  Implementation of restoration efforts is time sensitive in order to prevent further erosion of streambanks/bluffs and collapse of additional wall sections. 

Minnesota Veterans Home Property

Redevelopment on the Veterans Home Property in 2001-2002 resulted in the creation of two gabion-enclosed stormwater facilities and rock gabion stabilization of the streambank on Veterans Home Property.  In preliminary evaluations of performance of each of these features, MCWD has determined each to be failing.  Flow paths in the stormwater facilities have eroded and undercut pathways underneath the gabions and flow directly into the creek without detention as originally designed.  In addition, the streambank stabilization, as noted above, collapsed into the creek as the result of a 2005 rain event. As with the WPA wall restoration, implementation of stabilization efforts is time sensitive in order to prevent further degradation of the streambanks.  MCWD has corresponded with the State of Minnesota (administrators of the Veterans Home) regarding facilitation of restoration efforts.  The State has acknowledged an obligation to address the stormwater facilities and streambank stabilization issues.  A redesign of these features will occur in conjunction with the maintenance of a bridge on the site in 2007.  MCWD will provide technical assistance in this effort to ensure the success of redesigned facilities. 

Stormwater and Ecological Management Plan for Minnehaha Falls Park

Human use of trail-ways, streambanks and surrounding natural areas have resulted in erosion and degradation of the riparian corridor.  MCWD and MPRB have discussed an interest in creating a stormwater and ecological management plan for the park and surrounding properties draining to the park.  A Stormwater and Ecological Management Plan would focus on the following components:

• Repair of existing areas of erosion along streambanks and bluff areas (Plan will not evaluate options for WPA walls but will note the outcome of the efforts identified above)
• Managing stormwater runoff from existing impervious areas to address erosion problems, reduce runoff volume and improve water quality
• Restoring natural features to the park integrated with efforts to manage stormwater and repair streambank/bluff erosion

• Balancing proposed features with the existing park use per MPRB guidance 

MPRB has conducted various ecological management efforts within the park in addition to a proposed redevelopment of the Wabun Picnic Area.  These efforts undertaken by MPRB must be integrated into an overall Plan for the park in addition to park use and future development issues identified by MPRB.  MCWD has retained a consultant through contract to develop this management plan in concert with direction provided by MPRB, the State of Minnesota Veterans Home and the general public.  The consultant is currently working closely with all organizations to develop a list of improvements mutually acceptable to each agency.

On July 24, 2007, MCWD and MPRB held a public meeting at the Hiawatha School Park to discuss the range of improvements that may be included in a potential project on the site.  A PDF of the presentation can be downloaded on the bottom of this page.

History of Minnehaha Falls

With more than 850,000 visitors each year, Minnehaha Park's falls and lower glen are major natural amenities for Minnesota residents and visitors. A historic landmark, the park has over the years been home to one of the principal mill sites in the region, a zoo, a racetrack, campgrounds, and more. Minnehaha Falls has been one of the area's largest tourist destinations since before statehood, attracting visitors from all over the world.

For more background information on the project and/or for general information on Minnehaha Park please visit the following web pages:

Minnesota Historical Society - Minnehaha Creek

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Environmental Assessment

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - WPA Walls

City of Minneapolis - Minnehaha Historic District

Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Minnehaha Park

Book Rags - Minnehaha Creek