Proposed Lanesboro Riverfront Project Adds Access, Fishing and Trails

LANESBORO — By summer of 2026, okay, maybe 2027, visitors to Lanesboro might be able to get a much better view of the South Branch Root River as it winds through the town. The river may even have new trails along it.

Anglers, especially those with disabilities, could have more places to fish from shore.

These improvements are spurred by an unusual project now being planned for the river from just below the dam to where a new pizza business is now located.

Minnesota Trout Unlimited (MNTU) is overseeing the project and is getting money from the Minnesota Legacy Fund, a sales tax surcharge approved by voters in 2008 to help natural resources, water quality, parks and trails and the arts.

Habitat upgrades and better public access

On September 9, 2025, Dr. Jennie Biederman, MNTU habitat program coordinator, led about a dozen trout anglers, guides, fly shop owners and the mayor of Lanesboro on a tour of the project. She said it will include about 3,200 feet of river and will cost about $750,000 including design and actual work. It’s possible other funds could be found for things aimed at handicapped accessibility, she said.

Planning is only 30 percent complete, so final details about work in and along the river are far from final, she said.

The overall cost is more than usual for a project on trout waters, but this is anything but ‘usual’, she and others said.

George McIntire of St. Charles fishes the Root River in Lanesboro in a section that would get major work done on it next year. One of the aims is to improve fishing access. (Photo by John Weiss)

A typical MNTU-led trout stream habitat improvement project is on private land with an easement allowing only fishing and is on land without buildings, trails or roads.

Stream banks are generally sloped back to let flood waters spread out and lessen their power to gouge the stream bed.

Things like lunker structures and big rocks in the middle might be added for habitat and the stream itself changed, usually by narrowing it and adding riffles.

Those planning a major project to improve the Root River in Lanesboro say they need to make sure it doesn’t hurt recreationists, such as these tubers. (Photo by John Weiss)

But in Lanesboro, the river flows through a business district, has a popular recreation trail adjacent to it, already has some rock riprap along the shoreline and is in relatively decent shape for fish and fishing. Also, it’s heavily used by canoeists, kayakers and tubers, so big rocks in the middle could present a big problem.

The challenges of Lanesboro’s unique riverfront site

“Not many towns have downtowns and three walking bridges that constrain the project and businesses . . . a lot of constraints going on,” said Dusty Hoffman, Driftless area project manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources who is also heavily involved in planning the work.

Dusty Hoffman, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources trout habitat specialist, explains more about the project to improve the Root River in Lanesboro. Listening is Dr. Jennie Biederman, the Minnesota Trout Unlimited habitat program coordinator. (Photo by John Weiss)

The problem is that there are so many trees along the banks that it’s hard for walkers to see the Root River in most places. Fishing access is limited by steep banks and other impediments, Biederman said. One objective is to remove many trees so “you’re going to see the river a lot more,” she said.

Special work will be done so those with disabilities will be able to fish from shore, she said, while others might have big flat rocks on the shore for easier fishing.

A community and new angler focus

“This project is more focused on anglers within the city and having opportunities for the local community, the kids, who are already living here so they can access this resource, so people with special needs will have greater options. This is not your typical thing.”

Lanesboro Mayor Alicia Pearson, (left), stands on a bridge over the Root River during a tour of the river. With her were Alayna Sobieniak and Lance Prado, owners of the Root River Rod. Co.. (Photo by John Weiss)

“This is going to look a lot different,” Biederman said of the river. “It will be pretty; they will be able to see the river.”

New roads will be cut to allow heavy equipment to reach the banks, and those roads could be maintained as trails by Lanesboro, Hoffman said.

It’s likely all the planning and permitting will be done so work could begin in 2026, Biederman said. Or it might be done in 2027 to coordinate with the major rebuilding of Minnesota Highway 250 through Lanesboro.

Work will be done in stages so the whole 3,200 feet will not be torn up at one time, said Melissa Wagner, area DNR fisheries supervisor. “It wouldn’t be excavators and fresh dirt everywhere,” she said.

But frankly, “there is no good time in Lanesboro” to do the work, Biederman said. Trout anglers use it heavily because it’s open to fishing year-round, with anglers being able to keep fish beginning in mid-April. When fishing slows, recreationists begin using it and those who love to see trees in reds and yellows come in fall, she said.

The idea for the project goes back about six years. It’s possible Steve Sobieniak came up with the idea, his daughter, Alayna Sobieniak, said. He owned the Root River Rod Co. in downtown Lanesboro and “I heard him talking, saying he always wanted it to be more accessible,” she said. He died in 2022 but the idea had already started.

Lance Prado, an owner of the Root River Rod Co. in Lanesboro makes a point about a major project being proposed for the Root River. (Photo by John Weiss)

Steve Sobieniak wanted a more beautiful town, “just make it a little bit accessible to walk along the river,” said Lance Prado, who now owns the shop with Alayna Sobieniak.

During the tour, Lanesboro Mayor Alicia Pearson said most residents don’t know a lot about the project yet. But she added, “we are incredibly pro-trout, pro-fishing and pro-tourist; I think this is an important project the city could get behind.”

Mark Reisetter, a Minnesota TU official, also said he likes the idea. “I think any time access to a stream such as this is improved, that is a good thing,” he said.

“It will be a benefit for the city. Lanesboro is a gem to us down here, more power to them, we’re happy to be able to collaborate.”