January 7, 2014: The DNR will hold a public hearing on a proposal to modify permit number 3-NO-1999-2-02032LS issued to Philip Myers for placement of a pier on the bed of Lake Superior. The proposed modification of the Myers’ pier will require the expansion of the flow-through opening from 12 feet to 60 feet. The existing cribs may be replaced by a support structure which will not obstruct the free movement of water or accumulate sediment and will span from the existing crib on shore to the waterward rock crib ell. The 12-ft flow through pier opening is not sufficient to allow the free movement of water and sediment at this site. The opening is located above the waterline for many years and has been observed to be filled with sediment.
What to Look For in the Coming Weeks:
March 17, 2014: Applications for municipal flood control grants are due on March 17, 2014. Cities, villages, towns, tribal governments and metropolitan sewerage districts are eligible to apply. The grant program helps eligible parties minimize flooding and flood-related damages by acquiring property and removing structures to create permanent open space, flood proofing structures, creating open-space flood storage areas, constructing flood control structures and restoring the flood-carrying capacity and natural and beneficial functions of watercourses. Eligible projects include property acquisition and removal of structures, which due to zoning restrictions cannot be rebuilt, property acquisition and removal of structures in the 100 floodplain, property acquisition and removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged structure, property acquisition and removal of flood damaged structures, flood proofing and flood elevation project in the 100-year floodplain that will remain in the 100-year floodplain and a Riparian Restoration project on a watercourse: dam or artificial obstruction removal, fish and native plant habitat restoration and erosion control and stream bank restoration. Additional eligible projects include acquisition of vacant land for flood water control/storage or flood water flowage easement, flood control detention pond and flood studies and flood mapping projects. The maximum grant amount is approximately $625,000 for one applicant (applicant defined as one city or town, etc.) The state share is 70 percent of project eligible cost with total funding of $3.4 million. This is strictly a reimbursement program. The project period is from October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2016.