Hartley Pond & Dam Feasibility Study
Project Status: Planning
Project Overview:
The City of Duluth and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have completed a Feasibility Study of Hartley Pond and Tischer Creek. A feasibility study is an evaluation, usually done by engineers, that establishes if the conditions are right to implement a particular project. Conducting a Feasibility Study for Hartley Pond is identified as an implementation action in the 2014 Hartley Park Master Plan, the 2019 Hartley Natural Area Management Plan under the Duluth Natural Areas Program, and the 2022 Essential Spaces: Duluth Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan.
The purpose of this Study was to evaluate the proposed options to improve the aesthetics, aquatic habitat, and recreational values of Hartley Pond, while also mitigating the temperature and sediment impairments that are negatively impacting Tischer Creek, one of Duluth’s designated trout streams. The hydrologic storage capacity of the pond is also a consideration in the Study. The recommended alternative that came out of this Study was: Flow Restrictive Culvert.
Informing the public and gathering public input was an integral part of the Feasibility Study process. As part of the public input process, the project team offered several informational meetings and a public survey.
Project Update:
8/21/24:
Presentations about the Feasibility Study were also provided at the May Natural Resources Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission meetings. In August, both Commissions reviewed the recommended alternative once again, took public comment and made motions to recommend that the Duluth City Council approve moving forward with the design phase of the preferred alternative.
The next phase of this project, if approved by City Council, is for design only. The design process will be 100% grant funded, will likely last through 2027, and does not require future construction. As with the Feasibility Study, the MN DNR will be managing the design phase of this project.
Important Documents:
02-21-24 Feasibility Study Draft Report:
Hartley Pond and Dam Feasibility Study Draft Report
Appendix A: FEMA Preliminary Floodplain
Appendix B: Existing Conditions SWMM Model Inputs and Outputs
Appendix C: Alternative Concept Designs SWMM Model Inputs and Outputs
Appendix D: Concept Design Drawings
Appendix E: Draft Alternative Floodplains
Appendix F: Alternative Summary Sheets
Appendix G: Stakeholder and Public Input Summary for the Hartley Pond and Dam Feasibility Study
Background Plans:
2019 Hartley Natural Area Management Plan
Tischer Creek Roadmap to Resilience
Public Presentations:
2-23-23 Public Information Meeting #1 - Presentation Slides
10-9-23 Public Information Meeting #2 - Presentation Slides
11-21-23 Public Information Meeting #3 - Presentation Slides
5-23-24 Public Information Meeting #4 - Presentation Slides
Feasibility Study Materials:
11-17-23 Hartley Pond Feasibility Study Poster
3-1-24 Hartley Pond Feasibility Study - Alternative Assessment Summaries
