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The Highway 61 earth moving equipment you may have observed, is not initiating a housing project— it is wetland restoration work.  Contractors will re-grade and improve the hydrology in the area between the Heims Lake outlet and the wetland east of Highway 61 connected to Comfort Lake-Sunrise River. 

The project is designed to divert direct flow creating slow infiltration of the drainage system, which will reduce loading of nutrients,  like phosphorus,  into the Sunrise River and Comfort Lake. Phosphorus will be cut by 81 pounds annually and 60 pounds annually, respectively.  The project is overseen by the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District and funding is from a $492,000 Legacy Amendment grant through the state’s Clean Water Fund.  It’s being done when hard frozen ground can support the heavy equipment.

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