Glyndon East Tributary Restoration

The Glyndon East Tributary is a tributary to the Buffalo River located in Clay County, MN. The stream is one of many natural waterways within the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District (BRRWD) political boundary. Much of the East Tributary is a DNR-designated Public Water. The Glyndon East Tributary subwatershed is approximately 9.5 square miles in area and extends southeast of Glyndon, MN, into Section 21 of Riverton Township, and empties into the Buffalo River north of Glyndon, MN in Section 35 of Moland Township.

Discussions between the BRRWD and landowners, regarding the existing drainage issues, began several years ago. These conversations led the BRRWD to begin a preliminary investigation to determine the cause of the drainage problems. Data collection for the Glyndon East Tributary was completed in two phases; phase 1 was completed in the summer of 2018 and phase 2 was completed in the Fall of 2020. The phase 1 area survey was initiated after concerns were raised by the City of Glyndon and complaints were heard from landowners over the lack, or perceived worsening, of drainage in the channel from the City of Glyndon’s wastewater lagoons and north along the waterway. The poor drainage conditions were especially noticeable to landowners along the stream during times when the City was trying to release water from their lagoons. Phase 2 survey work was authorized after hearing numerous complaints on the drainage southeast of the City of Glyndon. Channel geometry collected included cross-sections, channel centerline profile, sediment test pits, and culverts and bridges along the tributary. The collected channel survey information was used to supplement Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) topography data. LiDAR does not penetrate through water to pick up the bottom of the channel, so ground survey was required to fill in the gap in the LiDAR data that existed in those areas that had water on them at the time of the LiDAR survey. The combination of the LiDAR and ground survey information was used in the planning and development of the restoration design.

The Project Goals & Objectives for the Glyndon East Tributary Restoration Project are as follows:

Improve channel conveyance, for agricultural drainage and lagoon discharge from the City of Glyndon, by the removal of excess sediment and improving undersized culverts within the Glyndon East Tributary
Improve water quality by reducing sediment and nutrient loadings to the creek
Restore conveyance through the historical meanders
Improve wildlife habitat along the stream corridor
Create a funding mechanism, such as a Water Management District, to be used for project implementation and maintenance

The overall goal of the Glyndon East Tributary Restoration Project is to improve the channel conveyance by removing excess sediment, restoring conveyance through the historical meanders, and improving the overall drainage of the current system. In addition, the goal will be to provide and foster stable stream conditions. A stable stream is defined by the MN DNR as a stream that can convey both its water and sediment load while maintaining its general geometric characteristics, including pattern, profile, and dimension. A stable stream neither aggrades nor degrades over time, but instead balances between the processes of erosion and deposition in a way that does not widen or narrow the channel.

On March 27, 2018, an informational meeting was held with landowners along a unnamed waterway, which we have called “East Tributary”, passing along the east side of the City of Glyndon. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ongoing area drainage problems. At the meeting, the group discussed conducting a survey and drone flyover of the channel as a starting point for a possible future project. The BRRWD Board of Managers authorized this survey at their April 9, 2018, meeting. An informational meeting to review the survey results has been scheduled for Thursday, August 22, 2019, at 7:00 PM in the BRRWD Barnesville office. Click on the link below to view the survey.

Glyndon East Tributary Survey 2018

Meeting/Hearing Minutes