The hardest part about this project is that we are dealing with the bluff.”

Stewart Crosby, Architect with SRF Consulting

Dakota County is seeking public input through Oct. 14 for the proposed plans for the new Schaar’s Bluff River Landing in Hastings.
The proposed plan features a kayak and canoe launch, an ADA accessible dock, fishing nodes, pavilion and outdoor educational space along the southern shore of Spring Lake where there is currently an area for duck hunting.
“The hardest part about this project is that we are dealing with the bluff,” said Stewart Crosby, Architect with SRF Consulting.
That area not only has steep slopes and flood plains, but archeological considerations of Native history and numerous endangers species.
Erosion of steep bluff slopes was a key consideration of new construction in the area. It required reinforcing natural slopes or creating walls while maintaining where and how water will run off of new paths and roads.
In addition, Crosby used the 100-year floodplain to determine where permanent structures could be built that would withstand annual flooding.
Inside of the that floodplain are “elements that are flat, that won’t put fill into the floodplain […] and that can be relocated and removed like picnic tables or portable restrooms,” said Crosby.
Along the Mississippi, and especially at Schaar’s Bluff, numerous archeological sites of Native tribes have been found.
According to the Schaar’s Bluff master plan: “A high concentration of known sites and its location on a major river suggest greater archaeological significance, and potential for designation as a culturally significant landscape.”
Because of this consideration, Dakota County is working with a tribal council consisting of members of the Upper Sioux, Lower Sioux, Prairie Island Indian Community and the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community for archeological surveys on the site.
These initial surveys ruled out the possibility of large burial mounds which allowed the project to move forward.
“We are really taking extra care with the site,” said Senior Project Manager Yao Xaio.
The final consideration is endangered species.
Endangered species like the bald eagle, rusty patched bumblebee, Blanding’s turtle, and the long-eared bat can all be found on the site and provide considerations on how to go about construction in order to not disturb habitat or further endanger local populations.
“What that means is that we have windows of opportunity for construction,” said Crosby.
For example, the long-eared bat nests in trees from March through the summer, which means that tree clearing has to be outside that timeframe.
Similarly, once the area is cleared of trees, it must be mowed in the spring before the rusty patched bumblebee would come to the area.
The Schaar’s Bluff River Landing was laid out in the Schaar’s Bluff master plan, which details prioritized improvements to the park over the next 5-10 years.
These improvements to Schaar’s Bluff include updated picnic areas, updating the gathering center to a public warming area with rental equipment facilities, and bison range-accessable viewing trail and viewing platforms.
The current proposed design differed from the master plan due to constraints in the flood plain which required reducing the size of the pavilion and the number of parking spots at the site, according to Crosby.
Dakota County will accept public comments through Oct. 14 before the plan is voted on by the board. It is expected to be finished by fall 2026.