Planning for Restoration of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities

Christian Lenhart

Purpose of talk:

1 Importance of issue: The gorge and falls as Minnesota landmarks

2 History of alteration

3 Certain restoration actions are possible

4 Now is the time to plan for it

Ford Dam

St. Anthony

Upper St. Anthony Falls

High gradient for Mississippi

Potential fish species benefiting from restored rapids in Mississippi

Potential fish and mussel species benefiting from rapids restoration

Others- sturgeon & paddlefish

Current species likely to benefit: walleye, smallmouth bass

Falls altered for saw mills

History: flour industry

River alteration for barges and hydropower: Ford Dam

Lower St. Anthony Dam-barge to Minneapolis

Before

After

Times are changing: A new vision is needed

Declining barge traffic, closure of upper harbor Economic benefits of barge traffic to Mnpls are questionableConversion from industrial to commercial / condosHigh cost of lock & dam maintenance and repair in long term. Infrastructure decayNew approaches for valuation of ecological servicesPotential benefits are highMore parkland: Ft. Snelling example

What can be restored or enhanced?

Improve fish passage, reduce fisheries impacts at Ford DamWater level management over all 3 dams for water quality, habitat improvements and seasonal whitewater recreationRestore islands and floodplain habitats by use of dredge material and/or water level drawdownImproved public accessNaturalize St. Anthony Falls to look like a waterfall again?

Historic islands were removed

Sample restoration project

St.Paul

MinneapolisRestoration components :

• island (new regional or state park)

•side/channel + rapids

• public access

Lower St. Anthony, February ‘08

Alternatives

Army Corps alternatives in Environmental Management Plan for Pool One

DNR, USFWS and others recommendations at Ford Dam (2004)

Benefits of restorationEcological• Restoration of a Minnesota natural landmark• Improved habitat for fish, mussels, birds• Fish passage and spawning grounds reestablished• Improvements to water quality by flow level management ?

Recreation and aesthetics• Parkland created by floodplain / islands (100s of acres) in the city• Aesthetic attraction of falls and rapids• Whitewater recreation in densely populated area• Improved access to rivers for recreation, viewing• Rock features – caves/caverns exposed, access to side waterfalls

Economic Benefits

Riverfront development and enhanced property values

Supports conversion towards residential/ recreational – Above the Falls plan

Increased recreation/tourist traffic Decreased tax dollars spent on maintaining

locks

Gorge could be a premier urban whitewater recreation area

Recommendations

Collect and synthesize existing information

Assess feasibility of restoration options

Account for full ecological costs

Plan for future now

Proposed study

Department of BioProducts and Biosystems Engineering proposal to collect and synthesize existing information and assess feasibililty of restoration options – John Nieber, myself, & others

Partners: Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, MNDNR, Great River Greening, National Park Service (MNRRA), U of M – Pat Nunnally & Mississippi River Initiative