Aerial view of Spring Lake in 1951 before islands eroded. - Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Aerial view of Spring Lake in 2004 after islands eroded and prior to construction of new islands. - Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Aerial view of Spring Lake in 2006 after construction of new islands. - Photo courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

This summer, three Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Projects (HREPs) were completed on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  These HREPs are part of the US Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Management Program, a program currently celebrating its 20^th anniversary. 

Upper Miss Refuge and US Fish and Wildlife Service experts worked closely with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the state Departments of Natural Resources, and the public to plan, design, and construct these projects.  HREPs built on the Refuge become part of the Refuge and the Service accepts operation and maintenance responsibilities.  With the Spring Lake Islands, Pool 8 Islands, and Mud Lake projects completed, the Upper Miss Refuge has once again “grown” some land.

Since the Upper Mississippi River was inundated by the lock and dam system built in the 1930s, habitat diversity throughout the river has greatly diminished.  Immediately after construction of the locks and dams, the river had a wide diversity of water depths and numerous islands which supported an abundance of fish, wildlife, and aquatic vegetation. 

However, because of the stable high water levels just above locks and dams, most of the islands have eroded and disappeared due to waves, channels and deep holes have filled in with sediment, and sediments are resuspended by wind and wave action.  These processes have changed stretches of the river into large, shallow, open-water expanses which provide limited habitat for fish and wildlife.  However, hope is on the way as these three HREPs will help slow continued degradation and enhance productivity of both fish and wildlife by protecting these valuable shallow backwaters. 

Spring Lake Islands (Pool 5):  Construction of this $3.4 million project near Buffalo City, Wisconsin began in November 2004 and was completed in July 2006.  This 500-acre backwater area now boasts four new islands which created 20 acres of land and 16 acres of mudflats, as well as over 13 acres of new fisheries overwintering habitat.  The islands were built with hydraulically dredged material from the vicinity which created the deeper areas for improved fish habitat.

Pool 8 Islands Phase III Stage 1:  The first stage of the Pool 8 Islands Phase III project is the $780,000 project below Stoddard, Wisconsin.  This includes 3 breakwater islands to protect the Coon Creek delta area.  The long, low islands placed along the delta’s outer limits were constructed in combinations of several different materials:  rock, logs, dredged material, coarse gravel, and cobble.  This small project was constructed in August and September 2006.  Stage 2 construction and Stage 3 design is scheduled to begin in 2007.

Pool 11 Islands Stage II, Mud Lake:  This $3.5 million construction project above Dubuque, Iowa, began in October 2004 and was completed in July 2006.  Two large clam shell cranes were used to dredge 2.7 miles of deep water channels and the dredged material was used to construct the adjacent 2 mile long embankment.  The embankment will protect a 350 acre backwater area to enhance vegetation for hungry migrating waterfowl, while the deep water channels will improve overwintering fish habitat.  Stage I, Sunfish Lake was completed in 2004.

Since the Environmental Management Program was established in 1986, 26 HREPs have been built on the Upper Miss Refuge, affecting nearly 47,000 acres.  Another 7 projects affecting 20,000 acres are currently being planned for the Refuge.  With these projects, the Upper Miss Refuge will continue to “grow”!