So long Katrina and Bay City Flats as we knew them.

If you have an interest in the Bay City area of Pool 4, you might want to attend this public meeting in Red Wing on July 11th.
What “improvement” some may not be “improvement” for you.

“The project will utilize dredged material from Pool 4 to improve the ecosystem at the head of Lake Pepin. In this Section 204 project, the operations and maintenance program (100 percent Federal) will pay up to the cost of typical dredged material disposal, remaining costs are funded through the Section 204 program.
Potential alternatives may include the construction of islands of various sizes and locations within the lake, creating a range of habitat types for fish and wildlife. ”

“This study will allow the Corps to investigate opportunities to utilize dredged material from Pool 4 to improve the ecosystem in the same pool. Potential opportunities for the Corps to improve the pool include using dredged material to build islands, dredging backwater areas, creating and/or improving wetlands, stabilizing the shoreline stabilization and planting floodplain forest.”

Wacuta Bay is and area Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance has been pushing to have dredged. The WI DNR had plans (proposed plans) to fill in Katrina Cut and place a number of islands in the Bay City Flats area.

I’m not saying anything they plan on doing is bad or good. I’m just saying now is the time to check it out and give your input if a person uses this area.

http://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Projects/Article/946949/continuing-authorities-program-beneficial-use-of-dredged-material-section-204-u/

“The only thing that never changes is that everything changes.”
― Louis L’Amour

It would be interesting to hear some people’s opinions on this. Unfortunately I cannot attend the meeting. I fish on Pool 4 a lot, more than anywhere else all year, and I personally have no opinion on this. I haven’t been fishing there for more than a few years though. My biggest concern with these islands is that they would become party hot spots and be littered with boats on the weekends and holidays much like some of the larger metro lakes. Is there a time frame for this project to start?

They dredged the weaver bottoms south of Alma quite a few years ago. Worked for a couple years as pike fishing was great but than it silted back in as rivers like the mighty Mississippi do and all the work was for naught. Maybe they have improved on there process since then……

B K thanks for the heads up. I hang around the head of the lake a bit. I am interested in their plans. Unfortunately I have to help Ontario with a walleye infestation on that date.

I did attend a meeting awhile back re North Lake and found it very informative re their plans, even though nothing has started on that project yet.

I think those meetings can answer questions one does not even know they have. Wish I could make it but duty calls.

I did attend a meeting awhile back re North Lake and found it very informative re their plans, even though nothing has started on that project yet.

That project died with the possible exception of rip rapping Brewers Cut.