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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A CONSERVATION PRACTICE ASSISTANCE CONTRACT WITH THE SOUTH ST. LOUIS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN AN AMOUNT OF $190,000 TO SUPPORT THE BUCKINGHAM CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the City of Duluth has worked collaboratively with the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to restore Buckingham Creek in coordination with the Enger Park Golf Course renovation; and
WHEREAS, additional funding is needed to complete Buckingham Creek restoration, which includes replacement of undersized culverts, riparian planting, and improvements to fish habitat stream geomorphology.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are authorized to accept and execute a conservation practice assistance contract, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, with the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District to support the Buckingham Creek Restoration Project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the associated financial assistance of $190,000 will be paid directly from the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District to the contractor performing restoration activities for Buckingham Creek with no pass-through requirements of the City of Duluth.
FURTHER RESOLVED, there are no match funding requirements of the City of Duluth in association with this conservation practice assistance contract.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes acceptance of a conservation practice assistance contract with the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District, including financial assistance in the amount of $190,000.
Buckingham Creek is the coldest designated trout stream in Duluth, and it runs through the Enger Park Golf Course. Last year, the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) began restoring roughly 3,500 feet of Buckingham Creek. Undersized culverts were replaced with bridges, the riparian area was replanted while accommodating course standards, habitat features (pools and riffles) were added, and appropriate stream geomorphology for this size watershed was restored. These restoration activities have been closely coordinated with the City of Duluth’s irrigation and Golf Course renovation work. The Buckingham Creek restoration will result in a more resilient creek, better trout habitat, and a more aesthetically pleasing course.
Thus far, restoration work has been funded by a Conservation Partners Legacy Grant and funding through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative awarded to the DNR and SWCD. The Buckingham Creek restoration work is nearly complete, and additional funds are needed to complete the project. The SWCD has funding available and wishes to allocate $190,000 to the project through this Conservation Assistance contract (Exhibit A). As the landowner, the City of Duluth must approve of the spending under this contract. Financial assistance will be paid directly to the contractor and no pass-through funding or administration responsibilities are required of the City in association with this Conservation Assistance.