Water Quality Improvement Project

The Water Quality Improvement Project was initiated during June of 2023 to combat nutrient levels through the use of a bioremediation product called BioPods PRO POND. Bioremediation is the use of microorganisms to consume pollutants and nutrients such as phosphorus. An excessive amount of phosphorus is an issue because it contributes to poor water quality and odor.

For this project, the BioPods product was added to the English Coulee in twelve different locations that have high levels of sediment. Sediment at the bottom of the coulee contains the pollutants and nutrients that the product targets. Overtime, additional doses are added to the coulee to maintain the product's performance.

Because the City is in the early stages of this project, small amounts of progress have been observed. Larger amounts of progress are expected through continued use of the product over time.

Keep a lookout for future results and information regarding this project as it continues in 2024!

English Coulee Restoration Project

The English Coulee Restoration Project was a research initiative completed in 2023. The City of Grand Forks worked with multiple partners to collect data that allows us to improve water quality and develop best management practices for the City to follow in order to best maintain the English Coulee. 

The results of the project conclude that the main contributor of odor and poor water quality is an excess of nutrients such as phosphorus from waterfowl E. coli. These nutrients are found within the sediment on the coulee floor. This sediment comes from runoff and is carried by waterflow and deposited throughout the entire coulee. Most areas of the English Coulee have around 2 to 3 feet of sediment, but some areas have as much as 5 feet. In total, it is estimated that the coulee has 110,000 cubic yards of sediment.

The proposed solution was to remove the sediment through hydraulic dredging which is the process of using a specific kind of boat called a dredger to suck up sediment and deposit it onto land. From there, the sediment would be stored until it is transported to a waste disposal site. Due to the amount of sediment estimated to be in the English Coulee, the cost of hydraulic dredging would be around $18 million. On top of high cost, issues such as the ability to access the coulee in certain areas and where to temporarily store sediment make hydraulic dredging a difficult solution to pursue. For these reasons, the City of Grand Forks is not pursuing hydraulic dredging as a viable solution at this time. Instead, the Water Quality Improvement Plan began in June of 2023 to combat nutrient levels through the use of bioremediation. Read about it above!

The English Coulee Restoration Project was completed in two phases. Find the completed materials below:

Phase 1 Results - Deliverables (March 2022)

Phase 2 Results - Final Report (June 2023)

UND Restoration Plan

The University of North Dakota has started a 10-year restoration plan along the English Coulee that focuses on restoring wildlife habitats within city limits. The plan includes removing invasive species and overgrowth which will better help native species flourish as well as improve its aesthetics for the people who use it recreationally or live along it. To learn more, click here.

Upset about the quality of the English Coulee? Here's what you can do:

It's no secret that the English Coulee can be smelly, dirty, and not pretty to look at during certain times of the year. The City of Grand Forks is actively seeking solutions to minimize these issues, but there are some things residents can do to help the health of the English Coulee.

Here's what you can do to minimize runoff that causes harmful (and smelly!) algae blooms:

• Apply pesticides and fertilizers according to the label instructions.
• Apply pesticides and fertilizers to specific areas rather than covering large areas.
• Avoid applying pesticides and fertilizers if the forecast predicts rain.
• Sweep up yard wastes such as freshly cut grass and excess fertilizer on driveways and sidewalks rather than hosing it off with water.
• Scoop up all pet waste and dispose of it immediately in a trash can.
• Do not water your lawn if pet waste is present.
• If you wash vehicles at your residence, wash them on a lawn rather than a paved area.
• Clean up all chemical spills such as pesticides, car oil, etc., immediately with an absorbent material such as sand or cat litter. Do no use water to clean up spills.
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces.
• Only drain pools after a test kit no longer detects chlorine levels.
• Store all chemicals in a covered, safe area to prevent leaks and spills.

Common misconceptions about the English Coulee:

The City of Grand Forks maintains the entire English Coulee = FALSE

The City of Grand Forks maintains the English Coulee waterway, but its banks are owned by many different entities including UND, the GF Park District, and homeowners. Those who own and live along the coulee are responsible for maintaining their area around it. This includes but is not limited to: picking up garbage and landscaping materials along its banks, minimizing harmful runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, and picking up all pet waste.

Within the waterway areas such as culverts and underpasses, the City of Grand Forks works hard to maintain these areas, but issues of accessibility pose many limitations to what we can do immediately when issues occur. We will do our best to update residents on the progress status of these issues, and we kindly ask that you remain patient as we address them.

The City of Grand Forks has the ability to hold back flow from the English Coulee = FALSE

The English Coulee flows TO the Red River, but it does not flow FROM the Red River. This means that the rate of flow in the coulee is dependent on the amount of rainfall that enters the coulee. The City of Grand Forks does not have the infrastructure nor ability to direct water into the English Coulee during periods of low rainfall.

Legal Drain No. 9 has the ability to limit flow into Grand Forks and redirect it into the English Coulee Diversion Channel when river levels threaten flooding within city limits. 

Commonly Asked Questions:

 About the English Coulee

The English Coulee is a natural waterway located on the flatbed of the former glacial Lake Agassiz. The coulee meanders to the northeast towards Grand Forks where it turns north and joins the Red River on the north side of the city.

History of the English Coulee:

1930s: The first known development on the coulee happened in the 1930s when several stock dams were constructed to help develop agricultural land. Also during this time, a portion of the English Coulee was straightened into a ditch to become a part of Legal Drain No. 9.

1979: The 1979 Spring Flood was a unique flood event because the 100 year flood on the coulee happened at the same time as the peak of the Red River flows. Several roads and buildings suffered from damage after the coulee flooded, including apartment buildings, university buildings, and the recently built hospital. 

1990s: During the 1990s, the Grand Forks County Water Resource District constructed the English Coulee Dam in the upstream portion of the watershed. The dam was constructed to provide flood control for areas downstream.

1997: Following the 1997 flood, the Corp of Engineers constructed the English Coulee Diversion channel, diversion structure, and levee closure at the Red River to work as a flood protection system.