SITE HISTORY AND ASSESSMENT: THE ENTIRE CITY OF AUSTIN, MN HAS BEEN DEFINED BY THE FLOOD PATTERNS OF THE CEDAR RIVER (1). AUSTIN IS LOCATED NEAR THE BORDER OF IOWA IN SOUTHERN MIN, IN MOWER COUNTY. FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS AUSTIN HAS BEEN IN CONSTANT BATTLE WITH FLOODING AND MITIGATION. IN THE MOST RECENT 2 DECADES, THROUGH MANY CHANGES IN POLICY AND ZONING, THE CITY HAS REMOVED MUCH OF WHAT WAS FLOODED HOUSING AND COMMERCIAL USE SPACE, AND RECLAIMED THE SPACE FOR FLOODABLE PARKLAND. TODAY, THE SITE IS OWNED BY THE CITY OF AUSTIN AND ZONED FOR BUSINESS, BUT DUE TO FLOODING IT IS JUST A MOWED LAWN. ANY NATURAL HABITAT THAT ONCE EXISTED HAS BEEN SINCE DESTROYED (5 & 6) PROJECT LEADERSHIP: THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE SUCCESS FROM THIS PROJECT IS TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT FROM ALL PROJECT LEADERS. THEY WILL INCLUDE THE CITY OF AUSTIN, MOWER COUNTY, AND THE CEDAR RIVER WATERSHED DISTRICT (CRWD) AS PROJECT LEADS. THEY WILL GARNER SUPPORT FROM ADVISORY COMMITTEES MADE UP OF THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, HORMEL COMPANIES, AND A LOCAL RESTORATION DESIGN FIRM.
FLOODWAY
100YR
500YR
MILL POND LAWN RECLAMATION
AUSTIN, MN JORDAN HEDLUND
2
R
1
AR D E
E V I R
C
X
KEYS FOR SUCCESS: SUCCESS WILL BE MEASURED IN MANY WAYS. A SUCCESSFULL PROJECT WILL CONTINUE TO BE FUNDED IN FULL SO AS TO MAINTAIN THE SITE TO THE STANDARDS SET OUT. MOREOVER, IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE “SUCCESS” PROPER EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ON THE PROJECT INTENT AND OUTCOMES WILL BE CLEARLY STATED. PROJECT BENEFITS: BENEFITS FROM THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE MANY FORMS. THE MOST OBVIOUS BEING CREATING A NATIVE BUFFER FOR RUNOFF INTO THE RIVER (3) AND RESTORING LOST HABITAT (4). ALSO, BY MAINTAINING A BIKE/WALK PATH (2) THROUGH THE SITE, A RELATIONAL CHANGE OF THE PUBLIC TO ITS RIVER CAN OCCUR.
FEMA FLOOD PATTERNS
700’
IMPERVIOUS
3
PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA: THIS PROJECT WAS CHOSEN FOR MANY REASONS. THE 2 MAIN DRIVERS ARE TO RECONNECT HABITAT CORRIDORS THAT ARE STILL INTACT TO THE NORTH, AND CREATE A RIPARIAN BUFFER FROM IMPERVIOUS RUNOFF (3). ALSO, THE PROJECT SITE SITS WITHIN THE THE CEDAR RIVER FLOODWAY ALONG WITH MUTIPLE BIKE PATHS THROUGH (1).
WILD
FORMAL
4
WILD
CEDA R R VE RI
SITE ECOLOGY: CURRENTLY, A DIVERSE ECOLOGY IS NON EXISTENT ALONG THIS EDGE OF THE CEDAR RIVER. SO MUCH SO THAT THE DNR DOES NOT CALL OUT PLANT COMMUNITIES. BASED ON OBSERVATIONS, SITE IS MOWED TURF WITH SOME SCATTERED MAPLE/BASSWOODS AND PINES. AREAS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE URBAN CORE STILL HAVE INTACT DIVERSE ECOLOGIES THAT ARE RECOGNIZED.
MILL POND
WATERWAY/IMPERVIOUS
FORMAL
5
FORMAL
700’
6 DAM
1938
1954
2015
PHOTOS TO THE LEFT SHOW THE CHANGE IN MILL POND OVER THE LAST 80 YEARS. AREA IN GREEN SHOWS THE REMNANTS OF WHAT WAS A NATURAL RIPARIAN EDGE, WHILE BLUE INDICATES LAWN AND RECREATION AREA. DREDGING OF THE POND REROUTED THE RIVER, AND IN TURN SEGMENTED THE RECREATION AREA, ELIMINATING ANY EXISTING NATURAL EDGE.
PROJECT EXTENT
700’
ROADWAYS
WATERWAYS
BIKEWAYS
2’ TOPO