Construction workers install the handrail on the new Minnesota Valley NWR water control structure. - Photo by Don Powell, US Army Corps of Engineers

Minnesota Valley NWR Refuge Operations Specialist Chris Kane inspects the new water control structure. - FWS photo by Sharonne Baylor

A new stoplog water control structure now sits at the lower end of Long Meadow Lake in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. 

The Long Meadow Lake Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project (HREP) is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Management Program, a program currently celebrating its 20^th anniversary. 

Refuge and Service experts worked closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and the public to plan, design, and construct this project.  With this project completed, the Minnesota Valley NWR can take control of Long Meadow Lake.

Long Meadow Lake is a 1,000-acre spring-fed wetland area along the Minnesota River.  Natural levees formed by the Minnesota River trap spring and stream flows to create marsh areas, but there were no controlled outlets to the river.  Without controlled outlets the Refuge could not control the marsh for vegetation management.  In addition, high water levels on the Minnesota River backed into the wetlands, depositing river sediments.  Overtopping of the natural levees allowed more sediment to enter the wetlands.  The sediment reduces water quality and increases the aging rate of the wetlands, substantially reducing areas for migrating bird nesting, breeding, and feeding.

Holte Contracting of Little Canada, Minnesota constructed the $300,000 stoplog water control structure in October and November 2006.  This structure provides a controlled outlet from Long Meadow Lake and prevents the Minnesota River from backing up into the lake.  Chris Kane, Refuge Operations Specialist, is pleased with the new structure, “We’ve been planning this project for many years, and now we’ll finally be able to manage the marsh to improve waterfowl and wetland wildlife habitat.”

Since the Environmental Management Program was established in 1986, over 40 HREPs have been built on the Upper Mississippi River System, affecting over 72,000 acres of habitat.  Minnesota Valley’s other HREP, Rice Lake which affects about 170 acres, was completed in 1998. With these and other HREPs planned for the Refuge, Minnesota Valley will continue to take control.