Duluth Stream Corps (DSC) works with a variety of government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses to improve our stream and forest health in the city of Duluth.
The DSC has employed 15 people who were under or unemployed at the time of hire. Currently our crew positions are for about 11 months with the primary focus on basic job skills and skills used in the natural sciences like GPS/GIS technology, chainsaw certification, and pesticide applicators license.
Our Past Projects
USFS- Wastewater Runoff
In October 2016, the DSC received a $194,000 grant for tree planting to help prevent water and wastewater runoff into the St. Louis River Estuary. This project
focuses along the WWT, Knowlton, and Kingsbury Creeks to prevent erosion, filter pollutants, and to shade the streams in the future. Planting began in August 2017 and will finish in the fall with a second planting happening the following year to replace dead trees.
USFS-EAB
In October 2017, a $100,000 grant was provided for tree planting in ash forests. These understory plantings are to help improve the city of Duluth's actions by fighting against invasive species before they have a chance to invade most of our forests, prevent erosion of the steep stream banks, filter excess nutrients from entering the estuary, and to re-establish a native and healthy canopy against the killer invasive insect knows as the Emerald Ash Borer. The area selected for this grant is upper Lincoln Park along the Miller Creek.
EPA-Invasive Control
In September 2017, the EPA-GLRI awarded a $450,000 grant to DSC to control and educate on the spread of invasive species. The 6 species focused on this grant include phragmites, wild parsnip, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, honeysuckle, and buckthorn. This grant is to help in control efforts already underway in Hartley Park, Lincoln Park, along the WWT, and in the Kingsbury Creek area. Private land and homes located within Norton Park, both south and north of Grand Avenue, have also been included in the treatment area. Once a survey has been completed, if you have one of these 6 invasive species on your property, DSC will attempt to contact you and obtain your permission to control them. This will most likely include some cutting of the vegetation and chemical application.
Our Current Projects
SLC-Phragmites
In February 2019, the DSC received $60,000 from the St. Louis County Aquatic Invasive Species grant to start the elimination of the highly invasive grass known as non-native phragmites. Working with the Phragmites Tech team, which includes SLRA, GLIFWC, Stewardship Network, DPA, MNDNR, and the 1854 Treaty, our goal is to eliminate phragmites in the county.
USFS-Invasive Control
The Duluth Stream Corps was provided a $93,000 grant from the US Forest Service to continue control of invasive species in Hartley Natural Area, focusing on the newly acquired school lands in the Northeast corner with a focus on Wild Tansy, Buckthorn ssp, Honeysuckle and Knotweed.
SOGL- Grassy Point/Kingsbury
To provide invasive species control both on site and within a 1 mile radius of the site on private and public properties, South Saint Louis CISMA and MN Land Trust awarded a $90,000 grant to Duluth Stream Corps.
Our Partners
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), US Forest Service (USFS), City of Duluth, St. Louis Co. (SLC), Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC), MN Dept. of Natural Resources (MNDNR), MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), Duluth Port Authority (DPA), Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), MN Land Trusts, Stewardship Network, Midwest Invasive Species Network (MISIN), Ecolibrium 3, St. Louis River Alliance (SLRA), CN Railroad, Minnesota Power, Maurice's, National Bank of Commerce.