Location
Pool 11, Upper Mississippi River Miles 590 – 598, Grant County, Wisconsin
Description
The Lower Pool 11 riverine, backwater, floodplain Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project, part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program, located in southern portions of the left descending bank of Pool 11 of the Upper Mississippi River. The project is located within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The closest community is Potosi in Grant County, Wisconsin.
The Project includes forest restoration, topographic diversity, river training structures, island stabilization and island restoration, and pool water level management for aquatic vegetation.
Project goals are derived from the River Resources Coordinating Team Pools 11-22 Environmental Pool Plan (Draft 2004), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Upper Mississippi River Systemic Forestry Stewardship Plan (2012), and other Upper Mississippi River System restoration documents. The Project will focus on enhancing and restoring high quality and resilient riverine, backwater, and floodplain habitat.
The objectives identified are (1) Restore floodplain vegetation diversity in conjunction with diversifying floodplain inundation periods; (2) Maintain and enhance floodplain vegetation; (3) Improve Lotic habitat (4) Improve quality, depth, and distribution of lentic habitat; (5) Maintain and enhance aquatic vegetation diversity, and (6) Reduce sedimentation.
Potential Project Features include:
- Forest restoration and enhancement activities such as understory plantings, invasive species treatment, and timber stand improvement
- Topographic diversity which may include aquatic dredging, dredged material placement, and grading to establish ridge and swale habitat to promote diverse tree species survival and creation of isolated ephemeral wetlands
- River training structures and connectivity management activities to preserve and protect side channel habitat and forest resources, while increasing sediment transport capacity in the channels, and providing land-building opportunities
- Island stabilization/protection to reduce erosion and maintain bank integrity
- Small island restoration and creation to provide shadow effect, promote healthy submerged aquatic vegetation, and improve backwater fisheries habitat; and
- Pool water level management (minor and major drawdowns) to revitalize aquatic vegetation in the area and provide conditions to enhance floodplain forests.”
Background
Several factors adversely affect habitat quality in Lower Pool 11. Erosion in the Project area (caused by higher river velocities and wave action) has eliminated many islands, especially in impounded zones. This erosion of island area limits waterfowl habitat. Conversely, sedimentation has filled many backwaters, channels, and deep holes, limiting backwater lake and side channel fishery habitat. Flat topography and higher water levels caused by impoundment of the Mississippi, increased flood frequency and duration, and erosion (both natural and human induced) have negatively impacted the composition and coverage of plant species and decreased the amount of terrestrial habitat capable of sustaining diverse forest communities. A majority of the forests are progressing toward a monotypic stand dominated by flood tolerant species like silver maple and invasive species like reed canary grass. Emergent and submersed aquatic vegetation are limited due to high water turbidity, sediment re-suspension, and wind fetch. The erosion, sedimentation, and re-suspension of sediment in the Project area have created a feedback loop that inhibits a resilient system. In spite of these challenges, there are opportunities to maintain and restore the quality and resiliency of riverine, backwater, and floodplain habitat in Lower Pool 11.
Status
Feasibility report started in August 2024 and is scheduled for completion in October 2027.
Additional Information
Authority
Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 1986 under Section 1103 (33 U.S.C 2201 et seq.; P.L. 99-662, 1986)
CG - Construction General
Summarized Project Costs
|
Estimated Federal Cost
|
$20,000,000
|
|
Estimated Non-Federal Cost
|
$0
|
|
Estimated Total Project Cost
|
$20,000,000
|
|
Allocations Prior to FY 2024
|
$0
|
|
FY 2024 Allocation
|
$50,000
|
|
FY 2025 President’s Budget
|
$600,000
|
|
FY 2025 Total Capability
|
$600,000
|
Major Work Item Current Year
FY 2024: The project started feasibility in August 2024.
Major Work Item Next Fiscal Year
FY 2025: If funded, the project will move forward with the feasibility report and pre-project monitoring.