Connections at Shingle Creek

The cities of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center teamed up to complete a stream restoration project on Shingle Creek, part in Brooklyn Center and part in Brooklyn Park. The project extended from Brooklyn Boulevard near Park Center High School eastward about 1,400 feet, to a small drop structure in Brookdale Park. This project stabilized streambanks, added fish habitat, and improved water quality. Brooklyn Park is also filled in a missing trail segment between Brooklyn Boulevard and Noble Avenue N, and constructed an outdoor learning/viewing area with interpretive signage. A highlight of the project was the creation of a fish ladder at the drop structure - a rock ramp on the downstream side of the structure,which allows fish to swim upstream by making a series of small jumps. This project received a $200,000 grant from the Clean Water Land and Legacy Amendment.

Typical streambank prior to restoration. Erosion and mass wasting of the banks, lack of a native plant buffer, flat sandy bottom, accumulated sediment. The overwide stream is very shallow and stagnant. There is little habitat for fish and other aquatic life.

This concrete structure allows for a two foot drop in stream elevation. It was difficult for fish to jump over and was a barrier for fish migration upstream.

Early spring following restoration. Native plants are anchoring the banks. Channel has been narrowed and deepened. Rock riffles were added to increase aeration and provide fish and macroinvertebrate habitat. A new outdoor classroom provides learning space.

Rock of various sizes was added to form a ramp up and over the structure. Fish can then swim upstream by making little hops rather than one big jump.