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by Jim Sauter Greetings from TCTU Streamkeepers. Wow. What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time we had extreme heat and drought. This year we have cooler weather, flooding, and drought concerns have vanished. Typically, we ask our stream monitors to take at least three of our stream monitoring readings within one day after a major rain event. This is not a problem this year! Featured Stream of the Month: Eagle Creek Last month we featured the Mall of America Creek as our Stream of the Month. This month we feature another metro stream gem- Eagle Creek. Eagle Creek is a 2-mile urban trout stream in eastern Scott County. Boiling Springs is a unique feature within the Eagle Creek watershed. Known to the Dakota people as Maka Yusota, it was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 2003 because of its cultural importance. It is named “Boiling Springs” because the upwelling of groundwater forces sand to the surface of a pool in the creek, giving it the appearance of boiling water (Anfinson 2003). After Boiling Springs, Eagle Creek runs north where it meets the similarly sloped east branch, which starts near the Savage Fen complex, just south of West 126th Street in Savage. Two tributary streams from the west, which are not designated trout waters, join Eagle Creek and likely contribute runoff to its flow. The northernmost stream is mainly confined to an underground pipe until it reaches the creek. Eagle Creek continues to flow north, under Highway 13 and the Union Pacific railroad crossings, onto the relatively flat floodplain of the Minnesota River, where it is no longer a designated trout stream. In the early 1990s, the area around Eagle Creek was designated as Minnesota’s first aquatic management area (AMA). The AMA creates a buffer around Eagle Creek to protect the stream from future development and provides angler and management access. One of these accesses is a small parking lot located south of State Highway 101 along the frontage road. Three other access points are via roadside pull-offs along Independence Avenue, West 126th Street, and Eagle Creek Parkway. Here are some interesting facts about this stream:
Eagle Creek is one of the eight targeted streams being monitored by the TCTU Streamkeepers. Our most recent chemical test taken by Todd Christianson on June 11, 2024 is as follows:
Habitat work is being planned by the DNR. This project will improve habitat in and along 2,000 feet of the main stem of Eagle Creek. To address historic channel downcutting and excessive sand, it is likely the low flow channel will be narrowed, and coarse substrate added. Cross veins and riffles will be placed to direct stream flow and increase spawning areas and other habitats beneficial to trout. Additional work will focus on restoring native vegetation within the larger stream corridor. TCTU Streamkeepers plan to continue stream monitoring on Eagle Creek. The TCTU Habitat Committee is also supporting the MDNR efforts in boosting the health and sustainability of this small metro trout stream treasure. Sources: Lower Minnesota River Watershed District, Metro Council, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, Minnesota Trout Unlimited Streamkeeper Monitoring Tip of the Month Interested in taking a Chloride/ Salt reading? First, obtain the test strips. They can be obtained free from the Izaak Walton League at https://www.iwla.org/water/stream-monitoring/salt-watch Directions: Use the Chloride Test Strip.
There is no need to submit results to the Izaak Walton League since we will do that from your submission on the google form. There are other entries on the form. You only need to enter one or more parameters to successfully contribute to the database. Future Training Opportunity: Streamkeeper Save Our Streams Field Training Note: The training is now FULL! We're trying to gauge interest in a second session. If you would like to attend a future session, please buy a "Waitlist" ticket here: https://tu.myeventscenter.com/event/Streamkeeper-Save-Our-Streams-Field-Training-95434 Save Our Streams (i.e. SOS) field training offers hands-on experience in water quality monitoring, including biological, chemical, and physical stream assessments. The session will focus on how to monitor area streams as part of the TCTU streamkeeper monitoring program and includes classroom and a streamside session. Participants also learn to assess stream habitat and watershed land uses. You’ll leave your field training fully equipped to assess water quality – and take steps to fix it! The training may be of special interest to TCTU members that are current or future Streamkeeper volunteer monitors. Additional Save Our Stream Certification and training is also available online after the initial training. Details on SOS Certification are here Children younger than the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.
Stream Monitoring Readings MOA/ IKE"S CREEK, Monitored by Harold Slawik, July 1, 2024
BROWN'S CREEK, Monitored by Brad Nidersson, June 28, 2024
BELLE CREEK, Monitored by Dean Albrecht, June 14, 2024
LITTLE CANNON, Monitored by Hillary Pennella, June 28, 2024
SOUTH BRANCH VERMILLION, Monitored by Rowe Wincoffe, July 1, 2024
HAY CREEK 305th St., Monitored by Keith Ketchmark June 24, 2024
SOUTH BRANCH WHITEWATER, Monitored by Chip Meyer, June 15, 2024
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