The Bong Bridge spans the background in this view of Grassy Point wetlands.

A three-year habitat-restoration project on the St. Louis River in West Duluth was completed this month. Sediment contaminants at Kingsbury Bay and Grassy Point have been remediated and heavy equipment has been removed.

Boardwalk trail to Grassy Point.

Grassy Point, located southeast of Irving Park at the end of Lesure St., features a short boardwalk trail that dead ends on the river looking out at the Bong Bridge. Approximately 130,000 yards of wood waste from two mills that operated there more than a century ago was removed, along with invasive narrow-leaved cattails. New islands were created to shelter the restored wetland from wave action.

The project at Kingsbury Bay restored coastal wetland habitat, created open water and improved recreational opportunities for boaters and anglers.

Kingsbury Bay, just northeast of Indian Point Campground, was dredged to remove roughly 140,000 yards of excess sediment that washed down Kingsbury Creek during the 2012 flood. Clean sediment from Kingsbury Bay was moved to Grassy Point for capping the new islands and covering the river bottom where wood waste was removed.

To learn more about habitat restoration projects in the St. Louis River estuary, visit the St. Louis River Restoration Initiative section of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.