West Alton Tract Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project

St. Louis District

Pool 26, Upper Mississippi River, Miles 203 and 220.5, St. Charles County, Missouri, Congressional District: Missouri - 3

Partners

• Missouri Department of Conservation
• US Fish and Wildlife Service

Description

This proposed project is located in Pool 26 on the right descending bank of the Mississippi River between river miles 203 and 220.5.  The areas are included in certain lands acquired for the navigation project and were identified in a General Plan and made available to the Department of Interior and States, through a cooperative agreement.  These properties include West Alton Bay, Brickhouse Slough, Mile 215 Tract (Luesse Lake), Mason's Island, and Island No. 526 totaling 1,226 acres and which are collectively managed as part of the Missouri Department of Conservation Upper Mississippi River State Conservation Area.  It also includes 230 acre Portage Island Division of the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

The proposed project area consists of an open water bay, remnant sloughs, degraded wetlands, and islands.  Sedimentation in West Alton Bay and other off-channel areas has led to a loss of spawning, rearing, and overwintering fish habitat. 

The goals of this project include improve aquatic habitat, improve woody and herbaceous plant diversity, and improve water management capabilities. 

Quick Facts

• Approximate Acres:1450
• Congressional District: Missouri - 3
• State(s) Covered: Missouri
• Land Ownership: Federal
• Management Agency: Missouri Department of Conservation
• Management Authority: Refuge

Proposed Potential Project Features

• West Alton Bay Area:
  • Dredging channel to restore off-channel aquatic habitat and reconnect the upper end of bay to the river
  • Notch existing dike at river mile 204.4 to help maintain Alton Slough
  • Construct 5 small rock chevrons needed to restore bathymetric diversity
  • Use dredged material to create an outer barrier island
  • Construct 3 large chevrons
• Brickhouse Slough:
  • Dredge channel
  • Redirect flow from power plant towards Brickhouse Slough to provide more flow needed to maintain slough alignment
  • Use dredged material to create an island
• Mile 215 Tract (Luesse Lake):
  • Dredge channel
  • Construct 3 scouring structures to maintain channel diversity
  • Use dredged material to create an island
• Portage Island Division:
  • Dredge to reconnect interior channel to river
  • Construct 2 scouring structures to maintain channel diversity
  • Install woody structure in backwaters
• Mason's Island Complex
  • Dredge to reconnect interior channel to river
  • Construct 4 scouring structures to maintain channel diversity
  • Install woody structure in backwaters

Milestones

• The Fact Sheet Approved, September 2010
• The project is currently deferred.