When Cook County assistant planning & zoning administrator Dave Demmer saw some paperwork come by his desk this winter indicating that the Grand Marais Park Board was considering improving and upgrading its public boat landing and the area around it, he thought it would be a perfect time for them to consider restoring some of the former wetlands in the park and he sent a letter suggesting his proposal.
Grand Marais Park Manager Dave Tersteeg introduced Demmer to the park board at its March 4 meeting and Demmer explained his ideas in some detail.
Demmer talked about potential for coastal wetland restoration to take place when (and if) the city moves ahead to extend the small breakwall at the public entrance and enlarge and improve the parking lot and the grounds in the area. The city is looking at partnering with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on the work to extend the breakwall and improve the current boat launching area.
“The opportunity may exist for the City of Grand Marais to restore coastal wetlands within the Recreation Park,” said Demmer, noting the project would fit with the park’s master plan and the county’s goal to see wetlands restored whenever possible.
“Moreover, wetland restoration efforts may qualify for wetland credits that the city could sell as profit. This plan could be integrated into the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources proposal for the water access and include an interpretive boardwalk hiking trail through the coastal wetlands,” he said.
Demmer also said the park’s master plan recognizes and prioritizes, “the function of these coastal wetlands as a means of providing storm water retention and as a natural ‘filter’ to maintain and improve water quality.”
The area Demmer referred to is roughly 1.15 acres. However, in his proposal he included the site for the water treatment plant, which will stay put while the old power plant, dog pound and garage will be removed and the grounds cleaned up.
“This infrastructure could be incorporated as a transition from the impervious surface of the parking area into a natural wetland. For this reason it would be paramount that restoration plans are in some degree incorporated with the DNR’s work,” said Demmer.
“Coastal wetland restoration within the Recreation Park could be of ecologic, economic and educational benefit to the citizens and visitors to Grand Marais. I would ask the park board to consider this option as part of the recreation plan,” said Demmer, adding that the work could be done in stages.
Park board member Sally Berg expressed support for the wetland restoration while new park board member Reid Duscheck cautioned that once the land was returned to its natural state it could never be used for anything else again.
“This is valuable property that will be taken away from the city once it is turned back into wetlands,” Dusheck said.
But Grand Marais City Councilor Bill Lenz, who represents the city on the park board, thought that if both projects were done together, “There would be something there for everybody, the boaters, the birders and nature lovers.”
Demmer said he would be talking to Ilena Berg, Cook County Soil & Water Conservation Water Plan coordinator and ask for her assistance in finding money to finance the wetlands initiative if the park board agreed it was worth looking into.
Joe Russell, DNR Parks & Trails supervisor for the North Shore who was also in attendance at the meeting, said his staff would be able to assist Berg if she needed help.
Tersteeg said there was known contaminants in the ground, “a plume” near the power plant/garage area that is trapped and might not be able to be disturbed.
“That could be a deal breaker for this project,” he said to Demmer. Demmer said he would talk to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and find out what they know about the contaminants and see if the project is possible and then proceed from there.
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