Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster
57th Avenue Roadway / Flood Reconstruction Video
The flood of 2012 left its mark on Keene Creek, Highland Avenue and 57th Avenue West in West Duluth. This relatively boring video was shot a few days before the roads were closed and one day after completion of the summer-long, 11-million-dollar reconstruction project. Let’s take a rip from Grand Avenue to Skyline for some before/after video.
R.I.P. Irving Recreation Center
Demolition of the Irving Recreation Center has been taking place this week. Above is a photo of the rubble. Below is a shot from February 2013.
Work underway on 63rd & Bristol
The precious connector between Grand Avenue and Cody Street has been blocked off since the Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster of 2012, but work is now underway to reconstruct 63rd Avenue West and Bristol Street at Keene Creek.
(more…)
For those in a summer mood …
“Duluth Sketches: Park Point After The Flood” video by Shawn Donovan.
Stone-Arch Bridge and Haines Road open
The Stewart Creek Stone-Arch Bridge at Magney-Snively Natural Area (State Bridge Number L6007; built circa 1925) has been repaired from damage sustained during the Hideous Solstice Flood Calamity of 2012. The bridge had sustained significant flood damage and deterioration to the abutment walls, stone-arch underside, headwalls, wing walls, railing and guard stones. (We’re not sure when that sign was damaged or when it will be pulled upright.) (more…)
R.I.P. Westminster Presbyterian Church in West Duluth
Westminster Presbyterian Church demolition is underway at 4441 Grand Avenue in West Duluth. The church was a victim of the Historic Summer Solstice Flood Disaster of 2012, when a culvert beneath the building worked its way into the basement and wrecked the place. The city of Duluth bought it as part of its Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. The church was built in 1961.
Update: In 2015 Westminster’s congregation moved to a new home at 9030 Beaudry St. in Duluth’s lower Smithville neighborhood.
Tree Planting in Duluth
Almost exactly a year after the historic flood, we found the timing to be refreshingly ironic as we set off on our annual tree planning exercise. Employees from Loll Designs, Epicurean, and Intectural all joined to plant trees in four areas around Duluth (Amity Creek, Hartley, Kingsbury Creek, and Featherstone Drive). As it is known, erosion from stream beds were hit hard from the flood and we saw that first-hand as we sought to plant and rehab those areas. (more…)
Water
As some of you know, I have long been interested in storm-water retention. Looking at these pictures of the flood, I am going to once more enter into the fray. I do not do this seeking anything, it just seems to be a common sense thing to do on so many levels. This is what I think. Take it for whatever you want. One small thing you could do.
(more…)
Flood Damage/Recovery
This little MPR piece with Derek Montgomery’s photos is the coolest.
Before and after photos: 2012 flood damage, recovery in Duluth, northeast Minnesota
Follow the link to see the flood photos from a year ago, then click on the image to transform it to a post-flood 2013 image.
Haines Road temporarily open between Skyline Parkway and Morris Thomas Road
Haines Road has re-opened between Skyline Parkway and Morris Thomas Road. (Haines Road below Skyline, where it connects to 40th Avenue West, remains closed.) This means it is again possible to travel along Skyline across Haines Road.
(more…)
Conservation district still accepting erosion reports from June floods
Private landowners in south St. Louis County who have yet to register erosion issues from the June floods should do so by Sept. 28. The South St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District has already received more than 100 calls. New, undocumented erosion may also be eligible for recently allocated flood relief funds.
(more…)
Flood Video: Calling Extras to the Set
LoLa Visuals is putting together a video for the city of Duluth to bring to the state legislature in attempts to attain state assistance for flood victims. We are filming the closing shot Aug. 19 at 5 p.m. in Canal Park by the pier and need as many people as possible to come join. The final shot will include Sarah Krueger singing “High Tide or Low Tide” with an expanse of Duluthians surrounding her swaying to the music; a final plea for the state to stand by us in both high times and low times.
Duluth Flood Skateboarding
Post-flood skateboarding with Colton Maddy, Steve, John Schneider and Taylor Verva. Shot by Travis and Cody. Edited by Travis Doyle.
Mayor Ness using Twitter for flood info?
Does anybody know if Duluth Mayor Don Ness is on Twitter? I seem to recall a mention about it, but I can’t seem to find him on Twitter.
Flood repair/cleanup photos?
Everyone has shared flood shots, how about any repair/cleanup/recovery shots? Road repairs, grading washouts etc. Not as much impact but something that should be saved for down the road showing how things came back together. People from afar are interested in how its going.
Duluth Deluge: Daredevils
Right behind the Tappa Keg bar, across the street from the zoo, the tracks are all but gone. However, that did not deter this Duluth Deluge daredevil from making it across. Kids, do not attempt this at home, unless you’re reenacting this scene with felted socks or shadow puppets. (more…)
Duluth Flood – Postcard from the Future
My friend Peter Sinclair, who actually is the grandson of an Iron Ranger, has posted a special message about the Duluth Flood on his Climate Crocks web space. Very enlightening insight indeed, and the other Crocks will give you plenty of ammunition the next time your idiot brother in law shoots his mouth off. Be well.
Looting at the River Place Campground
Just when we thought everyone in the Northland was awesome and we were all in this flood recovery, there comes word that there were numerous break-ins and robberies at the flooded River Place Campground next to Boy Scout Landing in Gary. I know that at least five campers were forcibly broken into and significant amounts of property were stolen (including cash and firearms). This occurred on the night of June 23 and/or the morning of June 24 and possible on a few nights previous to that. I have asked the DNT to do a story on it so that some awareness is out there. If anyone hears any information that may be somehow helpful in catching the baddies, please notify the Duluth Police Department.
Chester Park and Creek
Shots from Duluth Outdoors
We are trying to put something together to have fun/fundraise/organize for flood damage. The problem is so huge that it’s hard to know how to attack but we are thinking Chester Creek and Park since we are named after that. The damage there is significant and federal money will need to be applied for. This event would be more for seed money to apply for grants and do some immediate chainsawing and so forth. (more…)
Chester Park Dam
The dam at Chester Bowl washed away with the storm, taking canoeing programs with it. Director of the Chester Park Improvement Club, Thom Storm, said without the dam skiing programs could also see challenges.
Disaster Vultures Have Arrived
I just got the first call from someone trying to cash in on the disaster. Claimed he wasn’t trying to sell something and was just calling in light of the recent flooding in the area. (Right, that is why you are making cold calls.) “Brad’s tree and stump service” offering free estimates. I don’t see this business in the local directory and the number comes up from a cell phone and the name James Macgregor. We are on the freakin Do Not Call List, and our phone has an option that gives a message saying we do not accept calls from solicitors and you must dial one to get through if you are not selling anything. This person must have hit the one to bypass the filter. I would suggest we all be careful of unsolicited help and hire local! This is disgusting!
Duluth Tap Water
Does anyone know the situation regarding drinking tap water in Duluth/Superior are the flooding? Have there been any advisories regarding contamination?
Drying out
Compared to many people, our house wasn’t hit too bad by the flood. But our living room was flooded, the floor messed up, and more than 100 children’s books, some of which I’m quite sentimental about, were soaked. Today, I’m hopeful that they’ll dry out enough to keep. As we looked through them, I saw this one in the mix. Hopefully, it will dry out, too.
Duluth Solstice Flood Footage
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwOTzK8iVdU