Public invited to learn about Kingsbury and Miller creeks restorations

Kingsbury Creek

The public can learn more about the stream restoration and protection plans for Kingsbury Creek at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at Willard Munger Inn, 7408 Grand Ave. The event will feature a tour along the creek and discuss actions taken after the 2012 flood.

The public will also learn how to advocate for restoration plans and what individuals can do on their own properties..

All interested persons are encourage to attend even if they do not live in the Kingsbury Creek watershed. Wear appropriate footwear for the trail as well as outwear for the weather.

For more information please contact Julene Boe at (218) 348-8767 or go to go to www.duluthikes.org . The event is sponsored by the W.J. McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.

Miller Creek

The record-breaking summer solstice flood of 2012 damaged many of Duluth's 42 creeks and rivers and adjoining trails and bridges. The Miller Creek Interpretative Trail on the Lake Superior College campus was one of them. Both bridges spanning the creek were washed downstream and stream-monitoring equipment was destroyed.

A formal reopening of the Miller Creek Interpretative Trail will be held on Wed., Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at the trailhead sign on the Lake Superior College campus. The public is welcome to attend with free parking available in the west lot.

Since the 2012 flood, LSC faculty, staff, students and the Duluth community have pitched in to repair the damage done to this designated trout stream. The trail bridges were re-designed by Larry Sampson from the Superior Hiking Trail Association and located to new crossings. Volunteers, including LSC Fire Technology students, helped with bridge construction, installation and creating additional tread walkways, including stone stairways.

The $5,000 stream monitoring equipment was replaced through FEMA funding. Jerry Henneck with UMD's Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) reinstalled this equipment, which provides real-time temperature, stage height, turbidity, flow, and conductivity data to the www.LakeSuperiorStreams.org database.

Bridge locations and connecting trails were altered so the new trail system was re-mapped by LSC Civil Technology students. A Civic Engagement class designed and installed a new trail entrance sign and way-finding arrows. Building Construction faculty member John Calcaterra built the new cedar trail sign holders.

The Miller Creek Interpretive Trail is a half-mile route connecting 14 sites of ecological and geological interest in the creek valley and surrounding area. Illustrated signposts explain features found at each location. "Our biology, geology and physical education faculty use Miller Creek as an outdoor classroom for our students. This trail serves as a community, educational and recreational resource, accessible to everyone for fishing and hiking," said LSC Sustainability Coordinator Kristi Heintz. "We appreciate all the volunteer time and support from our campus and community."