New developments in Minnesota qualify a recent project as a smashing ecosystem revitalization success story.
An important habitat capable of supporting a variety of species was torn apart by highway and railroad development. According to the Duluth News Tribune, conservation action has it on the road to recovery.
Perch Lake is a 30-acre body of water that was formerly an oxbow section of the meandering St. Louis River. It was separated from the river by the construction of a railroad grade and connected to its source only by a culvert, which created a small channel not up to the challenge of maintaining the health of the water.
As a result of this human intervention, Perch Lake became an inhospitable environment for fish. It slowly transformed into a shallow "mud-filled pit" incapable of supporting the flora and fauna that relied on it.
That was before Minnesota conservationists took action. As the Tribune wrote, "All it took was $8 million, a new bridge/culvert and 72,000 cubic yards of sediment removed to recover the lake after more than a century of isolation from its original source, the St. Louis River Estuary."
With the new culvert, targeted cultivation of vegetation, and the removal of sediment to create fish spawning environments, Perch Lake has been enjoying a remarkable recovery. "We will hopefully … allow access to any fish that are looking for areas to forage," Minnesota Department of Natural Resources project manager Jeramy Pinkerton said.
Conservation efforts such as this one offer roadmaps for localities looking to revitalize their natural areas. Conservation and reintroduction efforts that seek to correct or reduce the impact of human interference in ecosystems are important action items for environmentalists seeking to improve their own quality of life while enshrining the rights of nature.
A healthy lake will also be a more popular site for outdoor recreation. Fish, birds, and mammals as well as cleaner and deeper water create a more welcoming environment for Minnesotans to fish, observe wildlife, or enjoy a day on the water.
As reported by WDIO, the Perch Lake project is but one of many being undertaken around the St. Louis River: "Perch Lake was identified in 2013 as one of 17 sites located in the St. Louis River Area of Concern in need of habitat restoration. Eleven habitat restoration projects have now been completed."
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