Lower Coon Creek Corridor Restoration in Coon Rapids
The Coon Creek Watershed District in partnership with Anoka County Parks is restoring a portion of Coon Creek within the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.
Goals
- Reduce sediment & nutrient pollution
- Enhance habitat for native species
- Protect property
How it Works
- We stabilize multiple eroding streambanks and stormwater outfalls by using
- Rock riprap
- Woody bank protection
- Re-grading
- Replace and repair infrastructure
- armor gullies with rock
- We add in-channel and stream corridor habitat features:
- cross-vanes of rock to create pools and riffles
- woody structure in and above the water
- create backwater pools
- add native plantings along the channel
Updates
August 18, 2025
Site Restoration
Construction work on this project is now complete. The restoration subcontractor Northern Ecological is working to stabilize all disturbed areas with a native grass and flower seed mix which will be covered by an erosion control blanket or straw mulch. Green bio-rolls will remain on site to protect the creek from erosion while the new vegetation grows in. Once the vegetation has established, the bio-rolls will be removed.
Later this fall, additional trees will be planted along the creek and the disturbed areas. If you have questions regarding the tree planting, please contact our office at 763-755-0975.
Project Timeline:
To accommodate regulatory requirements and avoid impacts to threatened and endangered species that could be within the project area, construction was split into two phases: Winter ’24-’25 and Spring 2025.
- Spring ’25 – Construction work completed within the creek. This work included stabilizing the creek banks using rocks and logs, groundwater seep stabilization, and storm sewer repairs
- Winter ’24 – Construction work completed above the creek bank. This work included tree removal, backwater habitat excavation, and stockpiling of materials.
- 10/31/24 – Sunram Construction, Inc, was awarded the project
- 10/18/24 – Bid opening at the CCWD office
- 08/26/24 – Project design complete and project out for bid
- 11/08/23 – Public Information Meeting
Project Resources:
- Project Overview
- Example construction details
- 2023 Public Information Meeting Presentation
- Construction Reports (updated 7/22/25)
Questions? Contact Jon Janke, Director of Operations, Coon Creek Watershed District. Phone: 763-755-0975
For more details on other work occurring in the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park: https://www.anokacountyparks.com/news/coon-rapids-dam-regional-park
Funding
This project is funded by the Coon Creek Watershed District, the MN Clean Water Fund (Workplan here), and federal US EPA 319 funds in partnership with Anoka County Parks.
