Project summary
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) propose to conduct a stream-re-meander project at Cedar Creek located approximately 3.8 miles southeast of Isanti, Isanti County, Minnesota to address ditching and degraded in-stream habitat to restore the ecological and hydrologic functions of the creek and adjacent floodplain. The project will include reconnecting the creek to historic meanders in the floodplain, installing riffles for grade control, installing woody material for instream habitat, and restoring native riparian vegetation. The project area occurs within the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve and will be funded through a mixture of public and private funds, including a Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) grant awarded to TNC in collaboration with the Anoka Sandplain Partnership. The Cummins Foundation will also provide funding, and UMN will provide access to the site and conduct monitoring and assessment support.
EAW documents
Public comment period
Public notice of the availability of the EAW for public comment is in the Feb. 24, 2026, edition of the EQB Monitor. A 30-day public review and comment period will be open from Feb. 24, 2026, until 4:30 p.m. March 26, 2026.
A hard copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5100. A hard copy of the EAW is available for public review at the following libraries:
North Central Library, 17565 Central Ave NE, Ham Lake, MN 55304
DNR Library, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155
Hennepin County – Minneapolis Central Library, Government Documents, Second Floor, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401
Comments must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 26, 2026. Email comments should be sent to [email protected] with “Cedar Creek” in the subject line. Mailed comments should be sent to the attention of Reid Brown, EAW project manager, Ecological and Water Resources Division, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road North, St. Paul, MN 55155.
Anyone providing a mailing address or submitting comments via email will receive a copy of the subsequent decision document, which will include responses to comments. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for this environmental review, commenters’ names and email or postal addresses will be published and publicly available as they appear in the materials commenters submit.