Clearwater River Watershed District
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    • Clearwater River Chain of Lakes (1980) Restoration Project >
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    • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Projects >
      • Alternative Tile Intake Project
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      • Clearwater River Restoration & Protection Phase II Project
      • City of Kimball Stormwater Treatment Phase II
      • Targeted Fertilizer Application Reduction Project
      • Watkins Area Stormwater Treatment Project
      • Willow Creek (Kimball Phase I) Stormwater Retention / Reuse Project
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    • Cedar Albion Swartout Henshaw Project #06-1 >
      • CASH Project #06-1 Fish Barriers
      • CASH Project #06-1 Rough Fish Removal
      • CASH Project #06-1 Segner Pond
      • Cedar Lake Watershed Protection & Improvement Project
    • Clearwater Lake Milfoil Treatment
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      • Clearwater Harbor - Hidden River Project #18-1 (Nitrogen Mitigation & Analysis Plan Implementation)
    • Lake Augusta Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project
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    • Norton Avenue Basin
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​Kingston Wetland Feasibility Study and Restoration Project

The Kingston Wetland was constructed back in the mid-1980s to provide treatment of water from the Clearwater River as part of the Clearwater River Chain of Lakes (1980) Restoration Project. As part of the District's TMDL Implementation efforts, the Kingston Wetland Feasibility Study and Restoration Project was designed and implemented to extend the original project's useful life and provide on-going water quality benefits to downstream waters. The restoration project seeks to:

  1. Address a dissolved oxygen (DO) impairment in this section of the Clearwater River
  2. Restore natural ecology and hydrology in the wetland and river
  3. Maintain the wetland's particular phosphorus treatment capacity while addressing the exportation of soluble phosphorus from the wetland during low-flow conditions

A grant of $404,000 was received for this project from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency through a Grant from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Section 319 Nonpoint Source Management Fund. The project was constructed in late winter - early spring of 2013. Major project components include: a restored low-flow meandered channel, a rock riffle pool, and a limestone filter berm.
Results of Project:

  1. DO: Pre-restoration 59% of samples collected at all times of day violated the DO standard. Post-restoration only 27% of samples violated DO standards.
  2. Total Phosphorus (TP): Pre-restoration (2001-2012) avg TP concentration at monitoring station below Kingston Wetland Complex was 308 ug/L. Post-restoration (2013-current) was 199 ug/L (arithmetic mean). TP load reductions are estimated to be 1,955 lbs. annually
  3. Soluble Phosphorus (OP): Pre-restoration (2001-2012) avg OP concentration at monitoring station below Kingston Wetland Complex was 156 ug/L. Post-restoration (2013-current) was 100 ug/L (arithmetic mean).
  4. Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI) scores, which is used to track ecological functions, greatly improved in the Clearwater River post-restoration as compared to pre-restoration (8.26 in 2012, 6.08 in 2014). Over the same time period, percentage of intolerant macroinvertebrates species increasing from 0.00% to 1.59% of total sampled, pollution tolerant species decreased from 35.22% to 18.73%, and super-tolerant species decreased from 55.66% to 6.03%. (For comparison, HBI scores from other low gradient streams in MN ranged from 5.8 to 8.8; the best achievable goal for the Clearwater River in this section is 5.8).
  5. Approximately 6,100 lineal feet of the Clearwater River's channel was restored to a meandering low-flow channel from its previously-ditch state. During high flows, the river accesses the wetland complex via an existing diversion channel around the edge of the wetland, along with overtopping the low-flow channel. This maintains the particulate phosphorus capacity, while addressing the sediment oxygen demand in the wetland during low-flow conditions that was a large driver of the dissolved oxygen impairment in the Clearwater River below the wetland.
  6. A limestone filter berm was installed at the outlet of the wetland to remove soluble phosphorus during low flow conditions.
Aerial view of Clearwater River
Aerial view of Clearwater River and Kingston Wetland
Aerial view of cutoff from Clearwater River into Kingston Wetland
Aerial view of Kingston Wetland
Water flowing through cutoff channel to Kingston Wetland
Water flowing through cutoff channel
Water flowing through cutoff channel
Newly constructed cutoff channel
Excavator clearing out cutoff channel
Kingston Wetland, shot of winter construction from a distance
Construction site. Riprap in channel, excavator and front loader in distance
Construction of Kingston Wetland channel. Reinforced channel banks with some water, construction equipment in distance
Man walking along newly constructed channel
Two front loaders on top of bank creating Kingston Wetland channel
Frozen water in channel, reinforced banks and snow
Construction progress, frozen water in channel, reinforced banks, equipment in background
Truck hauling out dirt from channel excavation
Pickup truck, front loader, and excavator along wetland
Wooded area, pre construction

Press Releases

February 2013 - Kingston Wetland Restoration Construction has Begun
August 2015 - Kingston Wetland Restoration Leads to Healthier Environment
October 17, 2015 - St. Cloud Times News Article on Kingston Wetland Restoration Project
October 2015 - St. Cloud Times Video on Kingston Wetland Restoration Project

Project Documents

Kingston Wetland Feasibility Study Report {Large file: 9 MB]
Revised Plan for Kingston Wetland Restoration Project
Project Manual - Kingston Wetland Restoration Project
Addendum #1 to Project Manual - Kingston Wetland Restoration Project
Addendum #2 to Project Manual - Kingston Wetland Restoration Project
Kingston Wetland Restoration Project Final Report {Large File: 13.6 MB]
View Targeted Fertilizer Application Reduction Project
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This page is maintained by CRWD Board Managers. 
​
​© Copyright 2020
Board Meetings
Third Wednesday of the month at 6pm
​
Special and emergency meetings may be called. Such meetings will be properly notice per MN Statutes. 
Clearwater River Watershed District 
93 Oak Avenue South, Suite 5
Annandale, MN 55302

Mailing Address:
3235 Fernbrook Ln N
​Minneapolis, MN 55447
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  • About
    • CRWD History
    • Board of Managers
    • Board Meetings
    • Advisory Committee
    • Staff
    • General CRWD Info
    • Glossary
  • Projects
    • Clearwater River Chain of Lakes (1980) Restoration Project >
      • Annandale Wetland Treatment System
      • Kingston Wetland Feasibility Study and Restoration Project
      • Lake Augusta Aeration Project
      • Lake Augusta Erosion Control Project
      • 1980 Monitoring Program
      • Non-Point Source Pollution Abatement (TCCP) Project
      • Upper Lakes Aeration and Mechanical Fish Removal
      • Watkins Wetland Isolation Project
      • Watkins Wetland Treatment System
      • Replacement Projects for Aerators
    • Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Projects >
      • Alternative Tile Intake Project
      • Clearwater River Channel Stabilization (CCM Riparian) Project
      • Clearwater River Restoration & Protection Phase II Project
      • City of Kimball Stormwater Treatment Phase II
      • Targeted Fertilizer Application Reduction Project
      • Watkins Area Stormwater Treatment Project
      • Willow Creek (Kimball Phase I) Stormwater Retention / Reuse Project
      • Potential Future Implementation Projects
    • Bass Lake AIS Management
    • Clear Lake North V-Notch Weir
    • Clear Lake South Notch Weir
    • Clear Lake IESF
    • Cedar Albion Swartout Henshaw Project #06-1 >
      • CASH Project #06-1 Fish Barriers
      • CASH Project #06-1 Rough Fish Removal
      • CASH Project #06-1 Segner Pond
      • Cedar Lake Watershed Protection & Improvement Project
    • Clearwater Lake Milfoil Treatment
    • CRWD Bog Control Projects
    • Communal Sanitary Sewer Systems >
      • Clearwater Harbor - Hidden River Project #18-1 (Nitrogen Mitigation & Analysis Plan Implementation)
    • Lake Augusta Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project
    • Lakes Louisa & Marie Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project
    • Norton Avenue Basin
    • Ostmark Basin
    • Pleasant Lake Outlet Control Structure
    • Cedar Lake Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Project
    • School Section Lake Outlet Control Structure
    • Wastewater Treatment Task Force
  • Programs
    • Water Quality Monitoring Program
    • Invasive Species
    • AIS Education >
      • 2023 AIS Forum
      • 2022 AIS Forum
    • Grants & Cost Share Programs
  • Resource Library
    • CRWD 10 Year Watershed Plan
    • Board Meeting Minutes
    • CRWD Rules & Regulations
    • Policy Book
    • Annual Reports
    • Audit Reports
    • CRWD Brochures
    • Project Reports
    • Total Maximum Daily Load Reports
    • Water Quality Monitoring Reports >
      • Grass Lake Dam Readings
    • Project Inspection Reports
  • How You Can Help
    • Landowner Resources >
      • Agricultural Incentives
      • Residential / Commercial Incentives
      • Partnership Incentives
    • Increase your knowledge
    • Join a Lake Association
  • Contact