Lower Riley Creek Ecological Restoration

Riley Creek is a 10-mile stream located in Hennepin County. The creek is listed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as impaired for aquatic life because of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish bioassessments and turbidity and for aquatic recreation because of the bacteria E. coli. The high level of sediments in Riley Creek were partially caused by erosion that occurred along the creek from increased stormwater discharge. Without intervention, the creek would continue to erode the streambank and surrounding slopes, picking up more sediment inhibiting aquatic life and recreation.

In 2016, the Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) partnered with the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District (RPBCWD) to develop a feasibility study to reduce erosion and sedimentation in Riley Creek. In 2018, the LMRWD stabilized a portion of Riley Creek within the LMRWD immediately south of Flying Cloud Drive/CSAH 61. In 2019, RPBCWD moved forward with a stabilization project upstream of the LMRWD.  An agreement was made with the City of Eden Prairie as the project is on City-owned land.

The goal of this project was to stabilize and restore a portion of Riley Creek to significantly reduce streambank erosion, provide diverse habitats, and enhance the public’s asses to the creek. Restoration efforts include rock riffles, toe stabilization, root wads, and cross vanes. The project was completed in the spring of 2020. This project had been in the LMRWD Watershed Management Plan since 2016 and the LMRWD agreed to contribute $150,000 to the cost of the restoration. Learn more about the project and specific restoration efforts by visiting the RPBCWD website here. More information on Riley Creek is available on the LMRWD website here.

Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District Website

Lower Riley Creek Engineer's Report