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Managing editor

A joint powers agreement has been approved by the Anoka County Board and the Coon Rapids City Council for an erosion control project in the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park.

In addition, the county board’s Fiscal Control Committee, on the recommendation of its Parks and Recreation Committee, has approved entering into a contract with Pioneer Engineering, Mendota Heights, in the amount of $16,500 for design and engineering services for the Riverview Creek restoration and stabilization project.

The estimated cost of the project is $240,000, for which the county has received a $140,000 grant from the National Park Service.

Under the joint powers agreement, the county and city will split, $50,000 each, the $100,000 balance of the estimated project cost.

The city’s share is pegged at $50,000 and any cost over the $240,000 estimate will be the county’s responsibility, according to the joint powers agreement.

Riverview Creek provides storm water drainage for a fairly large area in the south central part of Coon Rapids with the creek spilling into the Mississippi River a few blocks west of Hanson Boulevard within the Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, said Steve Gatlin, Coon Rapids public services director.

The severe erosion of the creek was one of the “problem” areas identified in the city’s storm water management plan and was listed as a high priority for repair, Gatlin said.

City financial participation in the project “is reasonable” given the fact that most of the stormwater runoff is from city development upstream of Mississippi Boulevard, according to Gatlin.

The city’s cost share will come from the storm water utility fund, for which revenues are derived from the storm water drainage fee that is part of property owners’ quarterly utility bill.

The county plans to have the repair work at the creek done in 2010.

Riverview Creek runs along the north end of the park.

“There is severe erosion along the creek that is creating public safety and environmental issues including sediment discharge into the river,” said John VonDeLinde, county parks and recreation director.

The ravine is about 900 feet long, 15 feet deep, 30 to 50 feet wide and drains some 102 acres, he said.

“This has been an ongoing problem for years with some fairly significant erosion and sediment damage in the ravine,” VonDeLinde said.

Indeed, back in 2002, a study on the proposed project was conducted for the county by Barr Engineering.

The safety factor comes from a trail which runs north from the Coon Rapids Dam Visitor Center to within 15 to 20 feet of the ravine, according to VonDeLinde.

The project would reshape, through regrading, sloping and native plantings, and stabilize the banks of the creek plus rip rap the lower half of the stream bank, VonDeLinde said.

The project is also designed to eliminate the sedimentation at the creek’s confluence with the river.

According to the grant agreement the county board has approved with the National Park Service, the degraded ravine is one of the largest, high quality natural areas within the Mississippi River and Recreation Area.

“This project will restore the ecological function and integrity of the ravine and adjacent natural areas through minimally intrusive, natural bioengineering and restoration strategies that stabilize eroding banks, restore native vegetation and improve the water quality of the river,” the grant agreement states.

The creek is eroding away and something has to be done, said County Commissioner Dick Lang, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Lang has looked at the creek, he said. “It’s really getting bad,” Lang said.

Peter Bodley is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it