Lake Superior Zoo – Duluth, MN

Lake Superior Zoo/Kingsbury Creek:

Audit & Best Management Practices

October 10, 2008

This project was funded in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act, by NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal
Program.
Contents
Background………………………………………………………………………………………..3

Winter Audit………...…………………………………………………………………………….4

Spring Audit……………………………………………………………………………………….7

Summer Audit……………………………………………………………………………………12

Fall Audit………………………………………………………………………………………...19

Appendix A: Basic Best Management Practices………………………………………………...25

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Background

The South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) conducted four seasonal
audits of zoo grounds to identify areas and practices where Best Management Practices (BMPs)
could be implemented to help improve and protect the water quality of Kingsbury Creek, a
designated trout stream, that begins northwest of Duluth, and runs through the zoo on its way the
St. Louis Bay and eventually into Lake Superior. The creek is currently being impacted by
sediment discharges from areas that become eroded from visitors or animals, and from animal
waste, specifically waste from the large Canada geese population that often takes up residence on
zoo grounds.

It is expected that this audit will lead to: 1.) recommendations for BMPs from the SWCD to zoo
staff that will help improve and protect the water quality of Kingsbury Creek; 2.) purchase of
equipment to implement recommended BMPs; 3.) a training session conducted by SWCD for
zoo staff on how to use recommended equipment; 4.) a printed manual identifying the
recommended BMPs and how to use the equipment purchased to implement BMPs. Ultimately,
it is hoped that the BMPs implemented by the zoo will lead to improved water quality in the
creek. This will be measured by the zoo through an existing partnership it has with Proctor High
School, which tests the water chemistry of Kingsbury Creek as part of its science curriculum.

Contacts at the South St. Louis SWCD for this project as of October 10th, 2008:
Kate Kubiak, Conservation Specialist
R.C. Boheim, District Manager

Keith Anderson, CCLNS Conservation Engineer

Contact at the Lake Superior Zoo for this project as of October 10th, 2008:
Leslie Larson, Education Coordinator

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Winter Audit: January 24, 2007
This picture was taken outside of the Griggs Learning
Center.Energy dissipation is needed at the bottom of this
downspout to prevent further erosion. One solution may be
to install a rain barrel to catch the water. The water could
be used for gardens or for the animals. An extendable
gutter may also help to get the water away from the
building.

Both of these pictures were taken to the west of the Primate

Conservation Center between the service road and Grand
Avenue. A no mow zone is suggested in this area to slow
down the water coming off of the parking lot on its way to
Kingsbury Creek.

This picture was taken standing by the Ravens looking up

towards the Children’s Zoo. This area of lawn is popular for
geese to hang out on and at times gets overloaded by waste
washing into the creek. This may be a good location to plant
some native plants or leave a small no mow zone to slow
down and further treat the waste before it reaches the creek.

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This picture was taken looking at the Ravens, right next
to Kingsbury Creek. This seems to be an area with a
natural depression and ends up collecting a lot of water.
zoo staff informed us that they have built a small rain
garden in this location by planting native plants. For
some reason the plants did not live. This would be a
good location to build a rain garden with the correct
soils and plants.

This is a picture of the hill below the Willard Munger

Animal Care Center. If this area is not used for anything
it could be a possible no now zone. This would reduce
the mowing cost and filter and treat stormwater before it
reaches Kingsbury Creek.

These two pictures were taken below the Asian Caravan

on the way to Polar Shores. Water from the Asian
Caravan is running over the walk way on its way to
Kingsbury Creek. Large amounts of salt and sand have
to be put on the walk way in the winter months when
the water freezes. Either the main cause of the water
flow needs to be fixed or the water needs to be diverted
under the walkway by installing a culvert. If de-icers
must be used, using environmentally friendly de-icers
with less salt content would protect the creek from
sodium chloride pollution
(caused by deicers running off the pathways during
spring runoff). The Asian Caravan area itself is showing
evidence of erosion from concentrated flow. Care
should be taken to maintain a good cover of vegetation
in the area. The soil could possibly be amended
(incorporate compost or other enhanced growing
medium) to improve growing conditions. Additionally,
one or more diversion terraces with tile inlets could be
constructed that would help to safely
transport runoff down the hill.

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 Runoff from the Pavilion roof is causing erosion along the
building. A better gutter system is needed. There are several
gutter options available (such as extendable gutters) that could
help get the water away from the building. This would be
another good area to install a rain barrel to catch the rain water
for use around the zoo.

This picture was taken at the bottom of the Northern

Territory. This whole area is severely eroding as a result of
large, hoofed animals over stressing the area. There is talk
about moving wolves into the area which will help out any
future erosion problems, but something still needs to be done
with the current situation.

Winter audit findings – One of the main themes we found while walking around the zoo is
that there are a lot of open areas that could be designated as no mow zones and left to grow
native or natural vegetation. These areas would help to treat and infiltrate the stormwater from
the zoo grounds. By reducing the mowing area for the zoo the cost of contractual mowing may
also be reduced.

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Spring Audit: May 17, 2007
This picture was taken next
to the Bald Eagle exhibit. The
rock channels to the right of
the picture are a useful BMP
and could be mimicked
elsewhere on the grounds.

This photo was taken near the

waterfall. It appears that this
erosion is caused by visitors
walking in this area. The
nearness and downward slope
of this area necessitates a
restriction on human
presence here. Barriers could
be boulder walls or other
aesthetically pleasing
structures depending on the
zoo’s capacity and
preference. Signs indicating
restricted access would also
provide a valuable education
opportunity (e.g. “help us
restore this area by staying on
the trails”).

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This photo shows evidence of
sediment entering Kingsbury
creek. It was taken on across the
sidewalk from the Northern
Territory exhibit. The source of
the sediment needs to be
identified and fixed. SWCD
staff can assist the zoo with this.

This photo shows erosion in the

Northern Territory Exhibit. It
appeared that animals were no
longer inhabiting this exhibit
during the Spring audit. There
was mention in the Winter
audit of moving the wolves into
this exhibit. Any unhooved
animal would help prevent
erosion here. Erosion such as
this should be restored before
the area becomes used again.
Re-vegetation may be difficult
since there is a lot of shade
here. The soil may also be a bit
unstable if there is a sewer pipe
lying beneath the area as
suggested in the photo.

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Keeping visitors on the trail will
help here. Planting native
grasses/refraining from mowing
would also stabilize the area.

The rock channels are not

performing as well as they should
here – the eroded areas next to the
channel show that water is
circumventing the channel. The
channel needs to be widened and
possibly deepened to accommodate
the quantity of water the channel is
serving.

The collapsed retaining wall needs

to be fixed immediately. The rest
of the wall also appears vulnerable.
Gabion Baskets or a terraced bank
may serve the bank better – the
best approach would need to be
determined by examining the
stream’s flow characteristics here.
The SWCD has staff trained in
stream assessment and can help the
zoo with this task.

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 The cause of erosion is
unidentified here. Animals could
be blocked from the area so that
the cause be identified and
vegetation could grow back.

Spring Audit Findings - One of the main themes we found while walking around the zoo
during the spring audit is that much of the open areas of the zoo are unrestricted to visitors. This
adds to the park-like nature of the zoo but leaves open areas susceptible to erosion. Not mowing
open areas could help reduce this activity, however, lack of mowing may compromise the
aesthetics of the grounds. If mowing must be done, visitors should be encouraged to stay on the
trails, especially near vulnerable areas such as the waterfall. Leaving areas unmowed, or, even
better, planting native grasses and forbs to increase the aesthetic value of the open areas along
with stabilizing the soil and providing filtering medium for stormwater, could help reduce
erosion in open areas.

Erosion within the exhibits may prove to be easier as animals may be more responsive to
blockades than the zoo’s many (and excited) visitors. While reducing space in the exhibits it not
ideal in the short term, taking time to restrict problem areas and test techniques that will
withstand the activity of animals may satisfy some of the zoo’s long-term goals. SWCD staff can
recommend techniques to test in problem areas.

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Summer Audit: July 30, 2007
The riprap on this slope is creeping onto the
pathway. The pathway is adjacent to the
lion’s exhibit, east of Kingsbury Creek. The
riprap covers the bottom half of the slope;
the upper half is vegetated. There is fabric
beneath the rip rap. Zoo staff noted that the
riprap used to be about 1 ft. farther back.
Because the riprap is encroaching so far onto
the pathway, it is becoming more and more
difficult for zoo service vehicles to get
through. Kate Kubiak discussed the issue
with Keith Anderson, engineer for the
CCLNS Joint Powers Board #3, Keith noted
several things – first, water flowing through
this slope could be causing it to creep
forward. An engineer would need to bore
into the hill to see where the water is flowing
and to identify what steps to take to keep the
riprap from moving. Keith also noted that
replacing the small riprap with larger riprap
may provide more resistance to the slope’s
movement. Sediment is also being exposed as
a result of this process.

This is a view from the top of the slope. It is

mostly vegetated. The fence is there to protect
the public from falling down the hill.

The west side of the zoo’s parking lot is also

located at the top of the slope.

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This is a photo of the pool below a waterfall on
the creek (north side of the zoo). Due to low flow,
this pool has been filling in with sediment over
the past few years. An island is present (red
circle) most of the time now, and has vegetation
growing on it. Zoo staff indicated that when the
flow was high, the waterfall and pool had high
aesthetic value, so the pond slopes were kept
mowed. Since the original aesthetic value to the
zoo has diminished, this area would be a good
candidate for becoming a “no-mow” zone.

This is a photo of the same area as above looking

south. Note the diminshed aesthetic value (you
can not see the creek).

This area that winds south around pool – zoo staff

indictaed that this area could be made a “no-mow
zoen” without impacting the aesthetics of the
grounds in this area.

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This photo was taken near the bridge on the
west side of the park – there is no rock wall
here to protect the creek from run-off as in the
photo below. Making this area a “no-mow”
zone would provide a good buffer for the
creek.

The rock wall seen in this photo protects the

creek from run-off. The green box in the photo
is the City of Duluth’s water quality
monitoring station.

Path running along the Northern Territory.

Note the sediment in the pathway. Problems in
this area have been noted in during previous
seasonal audits. A ditch once existed along the
fence – it has filled in with sediment.
Something needs to be done here to keep
sediment from the deer yard from running
across the path into the creek.

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Sediment deposits around a drain near the
Northern Territory. This sediment should
be swept up and discarded out of the path
of stormwater so that it does not end up in
the creek.

This small area is not mowed and,

surprisingly, is not over-run with invasive
tansy like other parts of the grounds. Wild
carrot/Queen Anne’s Lace (a native MN
wildflower) is present in this area instead.
Zoo staff noted an interest in removing the
rocks from this area and continuing to
leave it unmowed. There is already a sign
explaining why it is unmowed (inside pink
circle). This type of sign is perfect for
educating the public about what the zoo is
doing to protect the creek.

Zoo staff indicated that this area is

frequently flooded. SWCD staff
recommend installing some type of buffer
between the pathway and the creek to
protect the creek from runoff. Because the
lawn area on this side of the bridge is so
narrow, it is recommended that runoff be
collected and diverted to the area shown in
the next photo where there is a larger area
to work with.

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Zoo staff attempted to create a rain garden in
this area – unfortunately it did not take (the
iris did survive). Zoo staff could make another
attempt at a rain garden in this area with help
from SWCD staff. The rain garden could be
sized to take runoff from the area shown
above as well. A curb could be installed along
the pathway to direct water to the rain garden,
and a curb cut could be created to allow the
water to empty into the rain garden.

This road (east side of the park off of 72nd

Ave. W.) is used for zoo service vehicles.
Erosion is quite evident. It is unclear if this
erosion is directly impacting the creek.

Zoo staff would like to keep this area mowed

to ensure visibility onto zoo grounds from
Grand Ave.

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This photo shows where sump pump
discharge from the animal care bldg. in the
background is traveling all the way down
this hill and forming a small gully at the
base. This should be of low priority for the
zoo as it is not causing much damage and is
not impacting the creek.

The sidewalks surrounding Raven Island

will eventually crumble into the creek. This
is not causing an immediate impact to the
creek but is something the zoo will have to
deal with eventually.

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Summer audit findings – The summer audit was very informative - it began with a meeting
between Kate (SWCD), Leslie (education coord.), Paul (interim dir./zookeeper) and Katherine
(part-time keeper; also a master gardener). Katherine walked around the zoo grounds with Kate
and talked about the biggest “problem areas” for the zoo and the efforts that zoo staff (with the
help of City of Duluth staff) have made in the past to mitigate problems with flooding, geese,
and erosion. Some of their efforts have been successful (reducing the geese population) and
some of them have not (the rain garden near Raven Island). It is evident that zoo staff care
greatly for the grounds and will be open to trying various methods to protect Kingsbury Creek
from the pollutants generated from the zoo’s day-to-day activities.

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Fall Audit: November 26, 2007

There is erosion below this solar panel. The zoo could

use something similar to the pavers shown in the next
photo (located at another location at the zoo) or they
could install a rain barrel to capture some water runoff
and help prevent erosion. In general, rain barrels at any
location on the zoo grounds could benefit the zoo in
several ways: 1.) they could save water by using the rain
barrels water for watering the many flowers they have on
the grounds in summer; 2.) capturing rain water in a
barrel could save some water from running off
impervious surfaces and carrying pollutants to the creek;
3.) Rain barrels are a great “water quality/conservation”
educational tool for zoo visitors.

The existing rock channels help prevent erosion on the

site. If goose feces build up in the channels, the zoo staff
could use a power washer to clean them and spill socks or
pillows at the discharge point to collect the wastewater.
This would keep the wastewater from getting into the
creek.

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There was quite a lot of goose feces
present during the fall audit. This
photo was taken on the path below the
main building. It is adjacent to the
creek. In order to keep feces from
getting into the creek, zoo staff could
purchase a power washer, spill pillows,
and wet/shop vacuum to wash and
collect the goose feces off of the
pathways during those times when a
high goose population is present on the
grounds. This practice would help
reduce fecal coliform in the creek, a
water pollutant that occurs when
animal waste runs off into the creek.
Geese could be deterred from
gathering in these areas by planting
native grasses. Another option would
be to make the area a no-mow zone,
however, this may result in an increase
in weeds, which may not be
aesthetically pleasing. Intentional
planting of native grasses could be a
better alternative.

This photo is taken near the area where

Kingsbury Creek exits the zoo on its
way to St. Louis Bay. The red circle
indicates where goose feces are present
on the walkway. A wetland could be
constructed in the creek near the
existing Raven area (on the right side
of this photo) in order to mitigate any
water pollution introduced to the creek
as it runs through the zoo grounds. A
constructed wetland would require
some extensive planning and design,
but SWCD staff could assist the zoo
with such a project.

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 The zoo was using straw to cover eroded areas in
this photo – a mulching mower could be purchased
and used to provide mulch for eroded areas instead
of straw. This would allow mowed vegetation to be
re-used and could reduce any threat of invasive
species that could be present in purchased straw
mulch. In the fall, zoo staff could use a mechanical
direct seeding machine or a manual broadcast
seeder/spreader to distribute grass seed in areas that
suffered erosion over the summer from heavy
visitor traffic. This equipment could also be used to
apply environmentally de-icers in the winter.

There appears to be a collapse (hole) at the top of

the slope next to the parking lot, which may indicate
rotational movement of the wall. The zoo would
need to work closely with an engineer to find a
solution to this problem. The SWCD could provide
assistance with this.

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There is some erosion occurring along the access rd.
Sediment is being deposited from the road onto the
lawn (see photo below). This could cause sediment
to enter the creek through runoff. The zoo could use
larger gravel to help slow down the water on the
road or use a dissipation structure at the top of the
hill to slow the water down.

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These two photos show that the large
cedars along the creek rock wall are
causing the ground to heave. This could
eventually compromise the wall. The zoo
could remove the trees, or work closely
with an engineer to find a solution that
would spare the trees. The SWCD could
provide assistance with this.

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 The following three photos show that
movement of the riprap wall across from
the lion exhibit is becoming more
pronounced. There are rocks on the
sidewalk and more of the fabric can be
seen.

Fall audit findings – The fall audit revealed that several areas of the zoo grounds become
subject to erosion from heavy visitor traffic during the spring, summer and early fall. The
potential impacts of the geese population was also revealed during this audit.

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Appendix A: Basic Best Management Practices for Junior Docents, volunteers and
employees at the zoo:

Q: I work here because I love animals – why should I care about the creek?

A: Many Reasons!
1. Because the creek has animals too! It has macro-invertebrates (tiny creatures that don’t
have a backbone and that we can see with our naked eye) and fish too (Kingsbury Creek
is a Designated Trout Stream).
2. Because the beauty of the creek draws a lot of people to the zoo. The Lake Superior Zoo
is unique – not many zoos have the luxury of having a natural creek running through its
grounds. The creek makes the animals feel more at home too.

Visit www.lakesuperiorstreams.org for much more information about Kingsbury Creek and its
unique history and character.

Q: How can I make a positive impact on the creek when I’m working or volunteering at the
zoo?

A: Here are a couple of basic Best Management Practices that the South St. Louis Soil & Water
Conservation District recommends based on its evaluation of zoo grounds and practices in 2007
& 2008.

1. Keep a careful eye on the animals’ watering containers. Don’t keep the hose running
continuously. Instead, check their water often and fill as needed. See illustrations below.
2. Geese love to hang out at the zoo-why wouldn’t they? It’s beautiful here. Unfortunately,
they leave a lot of waste (goose poop) on the grounds and the zoo needs to remove it to
keep the place looking nice. The zoo purchased a power washer in 2008 just for this
purpose. To protect the creek, always wash the waste AWAY from the creek, into the
grass on the non-creek side of the pathway. Goose feces contains bacteria that can
diminish the water quality of the creek. The Grass will help filter the wash water before it
enters ground water. Refer to the illustrations below.

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Just like you shouldn’t keep the faucet running
when you’re brushing your teeth, it’s also better
to turn off the watering hoses when the animals’
containers are full.

Hose running continuously

Water container full.

Animal health and safety come first, but check

those water containers often – make sure they’re
not overflowing – water runs off these areas,
makes a muddy mess, and takes dirt right to the
creek.
Kingsbury Creek

Flow of muddy water

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 Power Washer

Wand/hose

Spray this way – away from the Creek.

Kingsbury Creek.

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