A Message from the Wright County Parks & Recreation Department Concerning a Project in Otsego County Park:
Park users over the years have noticed the streambank at Otsego County Park has been eroding – some years faster than others. Over the next month or so you will begin to see orange fencing being placed, trees with roots attached stacked, and benches along the river being moved.
Over the last three years Wright County Parks & Recreation in partnership with the Wright Soil and Water Conservation District has been planning a streambank restoration project at Otsego County Park which will take place this fall. Due the nature of this project, visitors will need to expect disruptions within the park, specifically the trail along the riverbank.
The project will use a process called “Toe Wood.” Simply put, a Toe Wood installation is burying trees with the root wad in the river and the trimmed tops in the streambank. The root wad helps in filtering the water and catching debris and sediment. This project includes 595 linear feet of streambank in Otsego County Park, which entails more than 150 trees that will be utilized for the Toe Wood installation. Toe Wood is an economical choice for streambank protection. Species of trees identified for harvest mainly included Box Elder, Green Ash and Cedar. These trees have been harvested at Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park, Marcus Zumbrunnen County Park, and a few within the project site at Otsego County Park.
Starting this week, the Parks & Recreation Department will start to stage materials for this project. If you visit the park you will notice trees that have been trimmed of their canopies and with the root wad still intact and many other items for the project. The department will be installing safety fence for the construction area with a re-route for the trail disruption as well. Please adhere to all signage in the park and around the construction area when you visit Otsego County Park. This is important for your safety and the safety of the crews working on the project.
If you have any questions about this project please contact us at parksandrecreation@co.wright.mn.us. See the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ publication on Toe Wood-Sod Mat for Stream Restoration for more details about how this process works.