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City of Duluth Announces Update To Storm Debris Plan

[Duluth, MN] The City of Duluth is announcing an update to its storm debris pickup plan as well as its debris drop off site. In order to protect public health and safety, residents can continue to place their storm-related tree debris on their front lawns or boulevards for City workers to pick up. The deadline for this pickup is Saturday, August 27th. Any tree debris placed on lawns or boulevards after August 27th, will not be picked up by City workers – residents will still have access to the City staffed drop off site on Rice Lake Road across the street from Boulder Ridge Apartments until September 3rd for any remaining tree debris. The City hopes to complete curbside storm debris pickup by the end of the day on August 28th. One large City crew will begin in Upper Woodland and work downwards. Another crew will start in Lester Park and work south. The material accumulating at the drop site will be ground down and transported to Minnesota Power’s Hibbard Renewable Energy Center to generate electricity. The City Council will be asked on Monday to approve a resolution with a contractor to grind and transport approximately 45,000 cubic yards of tree material.

Clearing of tree debris in parks and trails to protect public health and safety, including fire hazards, is ongoing. In order to protect the public from harm, City Park Maintenance crews are clearing and removing downed trees from the developed portions of affected parks. The City Council will be asked on Monday to approve a resolution with a contractor for the cleanup of fallen trees, leaning trees, and wood debris from affected Nordic ski trails, snowmobile trails, and Old Hartley Road.  Contractors will begin with the Old Hartley Road. The City aims to have the contractor complete tree clearing on the Nordic and snowmobile trail system by November 1st. The Superior Hiking Trail Association (SHTA) has announced that their crews have cleared 450 downed trees from the segment of the trail between Bagley Nature Area through Hartley Park to the Normanna Road trailhead. The SHTA has reopened all of the trail except a short detour within Hartley Park.

Other than the area surrounding Hartley Nature Center and the Superior Hiking Trail, major portions of Hartley Park remain closed. Crews from Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) have just begun clearing the multipurpose trails in Hartley they regularly maintain. They expect to clear and reopen the system within two to three weeks. The City does not have a timeline for debris clean up in the park at this time. The ski trails are closed, though most Lester Park multi-use trails are open. Check local conditions and look for signage. For safety reasons, please do not venture onto closed trails.

Questions can be directed to Phil Jents, Community Relations Officer, 218-730-5315.

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