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LETTER OF PERMISSION: The Bassett Creek Main Stem Stabilization Project includes bank stabilization activities within two portions of Bassett Creek in Minneapolis, MN.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE:The Bassett Creek Main Stem Stabilization Project includes bank stabilization activities within two portions of Bassett Creek in Minneapolis, MN. The purpose of the project is to stabilize eroding banks at targeted locations along these two segments of Bassett Creek. The primary objectives of the project include: reduction of sediment and nutrient loading, improvement of downstream water quality, prevention of future channel erosion, enhancement of natural habitat and species diversity, and maintenance of existing floodplain storage.
Information for File # MVP-2017-03270-MMJ; Bassett Creek
Main Stem Stabilization Project
Applicant: City of Minneapolis, Attention: Liz Stout
Agent: Barr Engineering, Attention: Jeff Weiss
Corps Contact: Melissa Jenny
Address: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District, Regulatory Branch
180 East Fifth Street, Suite 700
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1678
E-Mail: Melissa.m.jenny@usace.army.mil
Phone: (651) 290-5363
Primary County: Hennepin
Location: Sections 20, 21 & 28, Township 29 North, Range 24 West
Lat/Long (decimal degrees): X: 44.976556 Y: -93.298741 (Reach 1 centroid)
X: 44.979127 Y: -93.313734 (Reach 2 centroid)
Information Complete On: October 27, 2017
Posting Expires On: November 06, 2017
Authorization Type: LOP-05-MN
This application is being reviewed in accordance with the practices for documenting Corps
jurisdiction under Sections 9 & 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 and Section 404 of the
Clean Water Act identified in Regulatory Guidance Letter 08-02.
Project
PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND PURPOSE: The Bassett Creek Main Stem Stabilization
Project includes bank stabilization activities within two portions of Bassett Creek in Minneapolis,
MN. Reach 1 includes approximately 2500 linear feet of stream located between Cedar Lake
Road and the Bassett Creek Tunnel entrances. Reach 2 includes approximately 700 linear feet
of stream between Glenwood Avenue North and the Soo Line Railroad Bridge. The purpose of
the project is to stabilize eroding banks at targeted locations along these two segments of
Bassett Creek. The primary objectives of the project include: reduction of sediment and nutrient
loading, improvement of downstream water quality, prevention of future channel erosion,
enhancement of natural habitat and species diversity, and maintenance of existing floodplain
storage.
Overall, the project includes:
· Removing accumulated, non-native channel bed materials (i.e. brick and concrete block);
· Installing a variety of streambank stabilization measures, including riprap, live fascines,
vegetated reinforced soil slopes (VRSS) with riprap toe protection, and rock vanes; and
· Restoring the vegetative buffer and improving streambank vegetation using a custom native
seed mix that focuses on resilient species that are more resistant to invasive species and can
better tolerate the surrounding industrial/urban environment.
Page 1 of 2
NAME, AREA AND TYPES OF WATERS (INCLUDING WETLANDS) SUBJECT TO LOSS:
Work will primarily take place along the creek's banks across the entirety of both project
reaches, though work below the ordinary high water mark (OHWM) of Bassett Creek will be
required in targeted locations in order to meet the need and objectives of the project. The
following activities will require dredge below the OHWM of Bassett Creek: excavation/grading of
bank slopes and in-channel debris removal. The following activities will require placement of fill
below the OHWL of Bassett Creek: riprap, live fascines, cross vanes, and riprap toe protection
to support VRSS installation above the OHWM. In addition, an existing dirt walking path lies
below the OHWM and will be improved on its existing alignment using articulated concrete. All
soil material generated from project grading will be incorporated across the construction site,
and soil transport/disposal is not anticipated.
Stabilization work within Reach 1 of the project site would result in excavation activities and the
discharge of fill material along approximately 2,500 linear feet (into approximately 0.49 acre) of
streambed below the OHWM of Bassett Creek. Stabilization work within Reach 2 of the project
site would result in excavation activities and the discharge of fill material along approximately
700 linear feet (into approximately 0.33 acre) of streambed below the OHWM of the creek.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: Three other alternatives were considered, but ultimately
discarded, for this project. The first alternative was to do nothing. Doing nothing was discarded
as it would not meet the project objectives as it would not address existing erosion problems. A
second alternative, bank armoring with riprap only, would achieve the purpose and objectives of
the project. However, it was discarded as it would not enhance the natural ecosystem and
aesthetics of the otherwise developed, industrial setting. A third alternative, providing stream
bank stabilization using bioengineering alone, was also evaluated. This alternative would
likewise achieve the purpose and objectives of the project. However, previous investigations
completed in support of the project identified sites adjacent to the project area with historic soil
contamination. While remediation of the contamination was previously completed, it was
undesirable to disturb more soil than necessary, and substantial excavation is required to
prepare a site for installation of certain bioengineering features (such as root wads). In the
current project setting, there is reasonable potential that additional excavations could expose
contaminated soils that are otherwise presently contained. As such, the third alternative was
also discarded. The currently proposed project provides a balance between bioengineering and
hard armoring in a way that introduces elements of bioengineering that require less substantive
earthwork.
COMPENSATORY MITIGATION: The applicant has not proposed to provide compensatory
mitigation for this project. The project is intended to improve and stabilize two portions of
Bassett Creek, and would not result in the loss of any stream functions or services.
Drawings: See attached figures labeled as 2017-03270-MMJ; Figures 1-20
Page 2 of 2
Brooklyn
Center
Elmwood Ave N
0
4+0
moria
Reach 1
Reach 2
Surface Waters
Minneapolis
W
Van
hi te
o
Mem
lvd N
rial B
Dupont Ave N
Girard Ter
0
Penn Ave N
40
Project
Location
Saint Louis Park
Reach 2
0
d
Ce
L
ar
ak
27+73
25+00
N
Feet
0
500
Memorial
500
200
Meters
0
200
d
eR
394
Imagery: MnGeo; 2016
;
!
Blvd
20+00
Van White
10+00
Reach 1
5+00
0+00
Bassett Creek
15+00
Ce
da
rL
ak
e
Rd
7+3
Penn Ave S
Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.4.1, 2017-09-08 11:31 File: I:\Client\Minneapolis\Project\23271579_Bassett_Creek_Main_Stem_Stab\Maps\MISC\20170828_Project_Area\Figure 1 - Project Area.mxd User: jrv
7
6
5
4
Glenwood Ave N
Project Areas
Van W
h
Humboldt Ave N
Irving Ave N
Robbinsdale
Golden Valley
+00
Delineated Wetland
l Blvd
55
Olson Highway Service Rd
Crystal
Fridley
ite Me
New Hope
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 1
Project Stationing
Figure 1
BASSETT CREEK STUDY PROJECT AREA
Bassett Creek Erosion Repair Feasibility Report
Bassett Creek Watershed
Management Commission
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 2
Surface Waters
Project Reach
Access
Impacted Area
Rd
ke
La
ar
Ce
d
Reach 1
Bassett Creek
;
!
N
250
Van White Memorial Blvd
Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.4.1, 2017-09-08 15:28 File: I:\Client\Minneapolis\Project\23271579_Bassett_Creek_Main_Stem_Stab\Maps\MISC\20170828_Project_Area\Figure 2 - Reach 1 Access and Impacts.mxd User: jrv
Delineated Wetland
100
Feet
0
Meters
0
250
100
Figure 2
Imagery: MnGeo; 2016
REACH 1 ACCESS AND IMPACTS
Bassett Creek Erosion Repair Feasibility Report
Bassett Creek Watershed
Management Commission
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 3
Surface Waters
Project Reach
Access
Impacted Area
Barr Footer: ArcGIS 10.4.1, 2017-09-08 15:27 File: I:\Client\Minneapolis\Project\23271579_Bassett_Creek_Main_Stem_Stab\Maps\MISC\20170828_Project_Area\Figure 3 - Reach 2 Access and Impacts.mxd User: jrv
Delineated Wetland
Glenwood Ave N
;
!
Reach 2
N
150
50
Feet
0
Meters
0
150
50
Ba
sse
tt C
re
ek
Figure 3
Imagery: MnGeo; 2016
REACH 2 ACCESS AND IMPACTS
Bassett Creek Erosion Repair Feasibility Report
Bassett Creek Watershed
Management Commission
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 4
Photo 1 Steep eroding bank, Reach 1
Photo 4 Steep bank with moderate erosion, Reach 2
Photo 2 Bare lower banks, Reach 1
Photo 6 Existing trail along Bassett Creek, Reach 2
(looking upstream)
Photo 3 Stream bed debris and non-native material,
Reach 1
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 5
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 6
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 7
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 8
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 9
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 10
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 11
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 12
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 13
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 14
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 15
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 16
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 17
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 18
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 19
2017-03270-MMJ, Figure 20