The next phase of increasing flow to Phalen Creek through the park is underway.
The creek that flows through Swede Hollow Park is a key link in the movement of water from White Bear Lake to the Mississippi River. The creek is also an important habitat for wildlife and can be a powerful education opportunity – especially if it can be maximized.
The community identified increasing the water flow through the park as naturally as possible as the #1 priority of City of Saint Paul’s Swede Hollow Park Master Plan. A key partner in this work has always been the Capitol River Watershed District, which has just engaged Resilience Resources to complete a major feasibility study of options for the park. Partial funding for the study was provided by Swede Hollow partner McNeely Foundation. We look forward to sharing the results of the study, which will be underway soon.
Timeline of getting the water to flow again at Swede Hollow:
- 1970s: stream flow funneled through a storm sewer pipe to complete its path to the river.
- 1980s: the stream was resurfaced (daylighted) into a small channel system, which at the time included clearwater flows from the nearby Hamm’s brewery and 3M manufacturing plant.
- 1990s: the stream was left with only neighborhood stormwater drainage and groundwater seepage as a base flow source; putting large amounts of sediment in an adjacent pond.
- 2019: more groundwater directed to the stream; lower stream pond restructured and dredged to increase depth; Swede Hollow Park Master Plan approved.