Bassett Creek Dredging Feasibility Study
Posted on 16 January, 2020The proposed project will remove sediment that has collected in three of the seven lagoons (D, E and F) created along the Main Stem of Bassett Creek in Wirth Park, between Golden Valley Road and Trunk Highway 55. These lagoons were originally created in the mid-1930’s by Civilian Conservation Corps crews.
A 2015 study found that the lagoons remained relatively unchanged until the early to mid-1990’s, when large amounts of sediment began to appear in the lagoons. The sedimentation appeared to slow or stop by the mid-1990’s. The sedimentation in Lagoon “E” (immediately to the east of Wirth Chalet and parking area) is of concern to City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board because the accumulated sediment may be contributing to flooding of the parking lot and a short section of Theodore Wirth Parkway. In addition, sedimentation has resulted in the creation of new “islands” in the creek/lagoons that reduce the flow capacity and floodplain storage of the creek. In addition to improving flow capacity and floodplain storage, the project seeks to improve habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates and has the potential to improve downstream water quality by trapping sediment in the lagoons, minimizing sediment passing downstream within Bassett Creek and eventually on to the Mississippi River.
The proposed project is in the Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission’s (BCWMC) current Capital Improvement Plan.