Root River Restoration Project: Major Milestone Achieved

CARROLTON TOWNSHIP, FILLMORE COUNTY — A significant milestone has been reached in the ongoing Root River restoration efforts near Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. Phase 1 of construction, targeting three sites along the river, has been successfully completed. 

This transformative work aims to curb decades of erosion, improve habitat for fish and macroinvertebrates, and restore the river’s natural flow.

Steep, sloughing slopes existed along this section of the Root River prior to its reconstruction. (Photo courtesy of Eagle Bluff ELC)

Site 1 addressed severe erosion caused by the early 1900s rechanneling of the river for hydroelectric power. Engineers have realigned the river to its original course, stabilizing the banks by grading steep slopes and constructing a new 3,300-foot-long channel. 

Over the upcoming 2025 growing season, vegetation will be established along the banks before the river is redirected into the new channel this fall. The former riverbed will then be converted into a wetland, enhancing wildlife habitat.  

At sites 2 and 3, aggressive bank erosion had altered the riverbed and degraded fish spawning areas.

Lessening the slopes of the riverbank re-connects the river channel to the floodplain, allowing the river to spill over in times of flooding rather than carving away at the steep banks. (Photo courtesy of Eagle Bluff ELC)

Restoration efforts in these sections focused on grading and stabilizing the banks by reconnecting the river to its floodplain. 

Hundreds of white pines from Eagle Bluff property were harvested and repurposed as toe wood, reinforcing the banks while providing critical aquatic habitat. The final step involves seeding the area with native plant species to ensure long-term stabilization.

Harvested pine is repurposed as toe wood to protect against future erosion and provide instream habitat. (Photo courtesy of Eagle Bluff ELC)

Future phases of the overall restoration project will include additional work to manage floodwaters and a three-year monitoring program to assess restoration success.

Root River Current’s David Shaffer shares the story-behind-the-story in his 2024 article, Engineers Shifting Root River to its Original Bed. His article also includes a timeline tracing the 110-year history from the building of the original dam in 1914 up to and including the current restoration project launched in 2024.

Root River restoration in action

The following video report by Colleen Froehrenbacher explores the larger scope of the project, including drone video of the various steps taken so far.

This project is a collaboration between Fillmore Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center (ELC) and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Funding for the project has been provided by Minnesota’s Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service through the Driftless partnership coordinated by Trout Unlimited. 

These restoration efforts will also be incorporated into Eagle Bluff’s outdoor education programs, offering hands-on learning experiences for thousands of students and visitors each year.