Miller Creek Task Force

Background

Presently, Miller Creek ranks as one of the best brook trout streams in the Duluth/Hermantown, Minnesota area. However, over the past 30 years portions of the Miller Creek watershed have undergone significant commercial development. Results of such development include the filling of wetlands, removal of riparian cover, and the introduction of large volumes of storm water runoff from impervious surfaces. The effects of such impacts include demonstrated benthic impairment in some creek stretches, as well as introduction of high concentrations of sediment, heavy metals and chlorides.

Mission Statement

In an effort to improve the health of the resource, the Miller Creek Task Force was formed. Goals of the Task Force include restoration of impacted areas, preservation of non-impacted areas, and increased community awareness in order to support restoration and preservation within the Miller Creek Watershed.

Outcomes of Task Force goals include:

  1. Sustaining brook trout populations at historic levels at Department of Natural Resources creek stations with the highest populations of brook trout;
  2. increasing populations of brook trout at DNR creek stations with historically smaller populations;
  3. maintaining or improving the benthic macroinvertebrate health of the creek relative to the 1992 Natural Resources Research Institute study;
  4. maintaining the "green" quality of the watershed strictly for aesthetic benefits;
  5. partnership development with schools in the watershed, other organizations and interested individuals, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency River Watch program, to create a hands-on monitoring and environmental education experience at Miller Creek;
  6. reducing the load of pollutants in storm water that drains to the creek, particularly chlorides, and sediment;
  7. reducing the thermal impact of storm water on the creek, particularly focusing on runoff from commercial areas;
  8. increasing riparian cover between the Miller Hill Mall and Arrowhead Road;
  9. increasing setbacks of development from the creek from current permitted limits;
  10. prioritizing sensitive wetlands for protection, requiring wetland replacement within the watershed for those wetlands that are filled within the watershed;
  11. reviewing and strengthening current zoning within the watershed to set aside areas that are critical for preservation;
  12. protecting and enhancing environmentally sensitive areas within the Miller Creek watershed through land acquisition;
  13. cleaning up accumulated trash and junk present in the creek.

This page was last updated on April 9, 1996. It is maintained by Pat Collins, (pcollins@ub.d.umn.edu).
http://www.d.umn.edu/~pcollins/miller.html