North & Sturgeon Lake Improvement Meeting

The following is courtesy of

Steven J. Clark

Chief, Environmental Compliance Section

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

180 5th Street East, Suite 700

St. Paul, MN 55101-1678

Phone: (651) 290-5278

Fax: (651) 290-5258

[email protected]

Please direct any questions or concerns to Steve.

This is a pdf file.

North/Sturgeon Lake Public Meeting March 2014<<

I’ll add a couple items of interest.

This is not just for fishermen, it will effect hunters as well.

A draw down of Pool 3 is one of the tools on the table.

(>if< there is a P 3 draw down, that would include the St Croix River as well(?))

Closing off/restricting flow or otherwise modifying all or some of the side channels is a tool that’s on the table.

If you recreate in anyway on Pool 3, please take a moment to view the pdf file to see what the goals are and how the tools could affect you and your descendants.

For some reason after I download the pdf i get all black screens except for the first 3 or 4 pages.
Could you post a url maybe it might work that way.
verry interested to see what this is all about.
thanks.

Sounds like it hasn’t finished downloading Mr. Jones. If you’re getting part of it, look at the url in your browser… that’s the correct one.

Thanks BK, I just looked at the download again and I missed a banner stating my device is not supported at this time for pictures. I also dont get the url in my browser just quick blip in the browser then it goes away when it starts down loading

Though I did find other info by looking up north and sturgeon lake habitat restoration pool 3 mississippi. Just a one page summery that did not mention closing off side channels.

Just a drawdown of 9 to 18 of depth of water and dreadging of the two lakes and adding islands to help in the aid of wind and wave destruction of the shoreline.

Carp.

Draw down the St Croix any lower and boomsite will be unusable. If that’s the case, it’ll be $15/day beanies all fall long

Wasn’t able to read the PDF either.

Thanks Brian. Didnt really find anything talking about stopping the flow of sediment into pool 3. You would think that would be addressed in the plan 1st.

Quote:

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Though I did find other info by looking up north and sturgeon lake habitat restoration pool 3 mississippi. Just a one page summery that did not mention closing off side channels.
Just a drawdown of 9 to 18 of depth of water and dreadging of the two lakes and adding islands to help in the aid of wind and wave destruction of the shoreline.

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The one page notice on the .mil site was something I questioned at the meeting. It was explained to me they needed something to request the money for so they needed some sort of plan. (Since there isn’t a “plan”, that might not be the correct wording)

It’s just a pdf file hosted on our IDO server. I’ll post the direct link in a moment but it shouldn’t make any difference in your viewing ability.

Like the invasion of AIS, sedimentation can only be slowed.

http://www.idofishing.com/articles/NorthSturgeon_March2014_PublicMeeting.pdf

The highlights without photos…
Concerns:

Increased flows / Sedimentation

Vegetation loss

Lack of quality habitat

Wave generated erosion

Stable water level
****
North & Sturgeon Project Goals

Improve habitat for native/ desirable plant, animal & fish species

Restore/emulate a sustainable ecosystem
****
North & Sturgeon Problems

Loss of emergent, submersed, & floating leaf aquatic vegetation

Loss of island habitat & floodplain forest

Degraded waterfowl habitat

Expansion & erosion of secondary channels

Lack of protected off channel fish habitat

Other Problems??
****
Habitat Objectives

Increase aquatic vegetation & wild rice

Manage delta formation

Improve habitat for fish & migratory bird species
****
Potential Measures

Island restoration/creation

Bank protection

Side channel modifications

Dredging

Emergent wetlands

Growing season pool drawdown
****
Bank Protection

Used to control erosion

Hard structure & living vegetation combined
****
Side Channel Modification

Manage flows in side channels

Rock sill and/or woody material

Seven side channels enter North & Sturgeon Lakes
****
Dredging

Backwater dredging

Improve deep water habitat

Top soil for island construction
****
Emergent Wetlands
•
Created in shallow flats near islands
•
Increase emergent vegetation
•
Habitat for amphibians, reptiles, and other similar wildlife
****
Temporary Pool Drawdown during Growing Season (Jun-Sep)
****
Pool Drawdown Challenges

Drawdown depth varies by pool location

Timing & duration of all drawdowns affected by flow

Must be flexible (may not be able to complete a drawdown in any given year)

Other issues & constraints:
►
Recreational boating, commercial navigation, mussel mortality
****
Growing Season Pool Drawdown
•
Increased vegetation provides:
•
Habitat for wildlife
•
Filter sediment and nutrients and improve water quality
****
What’s Next During the Study?
1)
Finish the study
2)
Prepare the final report
3)
Public meetings later in 2014 and in 2015
4)
Public review of report
5)
Approve report and recommendation
6)
Build project
****
Questions?

Note: The above will give you the just of the project. Without photos you’re missing a lot.

Got it.
Looks like a good project!

I’m not sure yet.

I’m keeping an open mind at this point.

As I was looking at a map of that section of river, I realized one big question is IF they are going to do a draw down, how is it going to effect not only the St Croix but the Vermilion as well.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction…will that apply here?