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Environmental Pool Management (EPM)
implemented in 1994 attempts to create thousands of acres of critical wetland
vegetation in the navigation pools, while still maintaining a safe and
dependable navigation channel. A successful environmental pool management
year is to keep the already drawn down pools (due to high flows), continued
drawn down 0.5 to 2.0 feet for at least 30 days. This pool drawdown
occurs between May and August, with the May-June period being the most
desirable for vegetation growth and seed production. It should be
noted that maximum drawdown (4-6 feet) at the pools are not related to
EPM. These drawdowns are done to reduce the flooding upstream of
the project. After the gates are placed in the water, the pool is
raised. Typically, the pools are raised as quickly as possible until
the drawdown target is achieved. These drawdown targets are usually:
0.5-1.0 Feet @ L&D #24 1.0-2.0 Feet @ L&D #25 0.5-1.0 Feet@ MP L&D Drawdown targets greater than these are not attempted due to the possible negative recreational impacts. The St. Louis District originally developed Environmental Pool Management, and applied this method of regulation at Lock and Dam 24 (River Mile 273), Lock and Dam 25 (River Mile 241), and Melvin Price Lock and Dam (River Mile 201). Graphs of the daily pool elevations are available here, with drawdown depths indicated. NOTE: Previous years will be added when data are summarized. Data for future years will be added each year during Environmental Pool Management. |
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