The purpose of this project is to support diverse and abundant native fish, wildlife and plants while sustaining a high level of environmental health and promoting recreation opportunities.

Location

McGregor Lake is a 200-acre backwater lake in Pool 10 of the Mississippi River. The McGregor Lake project is located on the Wisconsin side of the Upper Mississippi River in the middle of Pool 10, near Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. The site lies within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Description

McGregor Lake and the surrounding area have undergone degradation in the recent past. Emergent and submergent vegetation are lacking, and shorelines are eroding, which impacts floodplain forest as well as the federally protected Higgins eye pearly mussel.

The McGregor Lake project aims to improve lake habitat for backwater fish species, increase emergent vegetation growth, increase submergent vegetation growth, increase age and species diversity of self-sustaining floodplain forest, and protect aquatic and terrestrial habitat by reducing erosion. Project features include backwater habitat deepening, floodplain forest creation, shoreline protection, and wetland creation. The McGregor Lake project has used over half a million cubic yards of clean sand from the navigation channel.

Status

Construction contracts were awarded for Stages 1 and 2 in 2020 and 2022, respectively. All construction is now complete. A tree planting and timber-stand improvement contract will be awarded in fiscal year 2026 and performed over the next 3 years to complete all remaining project objectives.

Project flyover:

Authority

Congress originally authorized the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program in Section 1103 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Public Law 99-662 (codified as amended at 33 U.S. Code 652). Section 1354 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024, Public Law 118-272, increased the authorized program funding to a combined $100 million annually.

The project was planned and designed as part of a cooperative effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Iowa and Wisconsin Departments of Natural Resources, and local interests.

Funding

Project design and construction is 100% federally funded because the project is located on lands managed as a national wildlife refuge. Operation and maintenance is 100% federally funded and a responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Federal funds allocated to date $23,811,489
Estimated project construction costs $24,317,000