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Truckloads of sediment, phosphorus and pollutants are targeted for elimination through a project the Comfort Lake Forest Lake Watershed District that the Managers approved recently. Following this design phase the project will be ready to go out for bid in fall of 2022.  

The engineering presentation described an estimated 81 pounds annually of phosphorus can be kept from entering Comfort Lake, attributed to one function of the project at Heims Lake. Another 60 pounds of phosphorus can be filtered out of downstream flow, from Highway 61.

Known by the working title of ‘tax forfeit project’ it involves two parcels of wetland complex or 42 acres approximately,  which are south of 245th in Wyoming. 

The land contains deep marsh, shrub swamp, wet meadow areas and takes drainage from around Heims Lake.  

Site work (elevation, soils, etc) and vegetation improvements will increase water storage and promote natural treatment and filtration.

The watershed district acquired the land after taxes were unpaid.  Chisago County Commissioners petitioned the district for work to be ongoing in this general region of the Sunrise River flowage and Comfort Lake basin;  as part of a multi-county comprehensive approach to improving the quality of the St Croix River.

By the time ground freeze-up arrives in 2023 heavy equipment will be noticeable on this site.

Final construction documents will put the fine points on the project and these now are expected in July 2022.  Currently, the district managers were told the project officials are working with landowners on agreements for access to the project location and other needs. These talks should wrap up by November 2022.

In graphic to right, the project work zone is outlined in yellow boxes. The area outlined in red is the the watershed contributing flow, that the improved wetland will end up treating.  Comfort Lake is not shown but is off to the right.

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