Lake Superior Zoo Seeks Funding After 2012 Flooding
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Officials with the Lake Superior Zoo will seeking funding from the State Legislature after major flooding in 2012 caused significant damage to the area.
Representatives from the zoo met with Duluth Mayor Don Ness and administrators late last week. They determined the current operations at the zoo aren't sustainable in the long term and many changes need to be made. Officials said revenue and visitors were up at the Lake Superior Zoo until the area was hit by major flooding on June 20, 2012, at the peak of the summer visiting season.
Zoo officials said the replacement cost for damages is estimated to be around $12 million.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency did not recognize the zoo's situation to be eligible for flood relief, so state flood relief funds were not given to the Lake Superior Zoo. The City of Duluth received $300,000 to repair a lift station and remove sediment from a creek that runs through the Lake Superior Zoo. But none of that money was used for repairs on the zoo's grounds or restore operations.