Projects & Studies
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Flood Risk Management Continuing Authority, Red River of the North: Wahpeton, N.D.
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Integrated Watershed Study: Minnesota River Basin in Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota and Iowa
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Lower St. Anthony Falls Rapids Restoration, Mississippi River, Minneapolis, Minn.
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Mississippi Headwaters Reservoirs Project Sites
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Mississippi Place, Mississippi River, St. Paul, Minn.
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Mississippi River Recreation and Environmental Stewardship, Eau Galle Dam
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Reconnaissance Study: Minnesota River Basin in MN, SD, IA and ND
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Recreational Boating Study of the Mississippi River, Pools 4 to 9, Summer 2003
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River Resource Values and Expectation
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Western Flood Control Sites - Minnesota: Lake Traverse, Orwell Lake, Hwy 75 - Bigstone, Lac qui Parle
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Western Flood Control Sites – North Dakota: Lake Ashtabula, Homme Lake Souris River
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Recreational Boating Study of the Mississippi River, Pools 4 to 9, Summer 2003
The Minnesota-Wisconsin portion of the Mississippi River is an important commercial, ecological and recreational resource. The river has long served as a commercial transportation artery, and improvements for transportation date back to the early part of the 19th century. The present set of improvements (a system of locks and dams) dates from the 1930s. Just prior to the creation of the lock and dam system, much of the Minnesota-Wisconsin portion of the River became home to Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
The refuge protects important riverine habitat and functions as a significant feeding and resting area for migratory waterfowl using the Mississippi Flyway. As a recreational resource, the Mississippi River offers opportunities for hunting, wildlife observation and a host of water-based activities, including swimming, fishing and pleasure boating.
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This study examines the river as a recreation setting. It focuses on recreational boating, which includes fishing from a boat. The reach of the river shared by Minnesota and Wisconsin contains nearly 130,000 acres of boating water and a substantial number of facilities (i.e. access ramps, marinas) built by both the public and private organizations to facilitate boating. The study area also contains numerous river-adjacent residences and riverside businesses (i.e. resorts, campgrounds) that attract customers due in part to boating opportunities.
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The broad intent of the study was to collect the information needed to more effectively understand and manage the river for recreational boating. The study was designed to answer a wide variety of questions, from the amount and origin of boating, to the experiences boaters had on the water, to safety concerns of boaters and to facility preferences and future needs of boaters.
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[Printable Copy]
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