The purpose of this project is to address sedimentation, erosion and degradation of culturally significant habitat on the Prairie Island Indian Community’s tribal land in Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota. Priority objectives identified in the feasibility study are to (1) reduce shoreline erosion on Buffalo Slough Island and (2) improve/restore floodplain forest habitat on Buffalo Slough Island; these priority objectives will be carried forward in the design and implementation phase of the project.

Location

The Prairie Island Indian Community’s tribal land is in Pool 3 of the Mississippi River, approximately 12 miles southeast of Hastings, Minnesota. Lands owned by the tribe include islands within and surrounding Sturgeon Lake, which is a backwater lake on the western side of the navigation channel of the Mississippi River.

Description

Sturgeon Lake is a relatively large area of moderate-quality habitat. A high rate of sedimentation coupled with recent increases in flow have impacted bathymetric diversity and vegetation growth. Furthermore, higher flows and wave action have increased shoreline erosion rates, especially on Buffalo Slough Island.

The recommended plan identified measures that would meet the objectives identified by the Prairie Island Indian Community: (1) building a rock bullnose at the north end of Buffalo Slough Island to prevent erosion; (2) building a berm and rock vanes to increase the size of the island and deflect the current away from the island, preventing erosion; and (3) building up the island with dredged material to smother invasive reed canary grass and planting floodplain forest trees to improve and restore habitat. The Prairie Island Indian Community sent a letter of support for the measures in the feasibility study, indicating a willingness to continue the project through the design and implementation phase.

Status

A feasibility cost-share agreement was executed on Oct. 1, 2018, which initiated a study to analyze alternatives that will lead to ecosystem restoration to tribal lands in Sturgeon Lake. The feasibility study, with integrated Environmental Assessment, was completed and signed on Oct. 2, 2020. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Prairie Island Indian Community signed a Project Partnership Agreement for the design and implementation phase of the project on Feb. 24, 2021. The design was finalized in August 2021. Construction began in September 2021 and completed in September 2022, and tree plantings occurred in 2022 and 2023. The project is scheduled for completion in December 2026.

Authority

The Tribal Partnership Program is authorized by Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-541), as amended. The Tribal Partnership Program provides authority for USACE, in cooperation with tribal nations, to study and determine the feasibility of carrying out projects that will substantially benefit tribal nations.