Corps announces public meeting, comment period for Minnesota Valley habitat restoration project

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is seeking public input on its plan to construct six water level management structures for the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in the Twin Cities.

The purpose of the control structures is to improve habitat for fish and wildlife. The structures would be located between Shakopee and Savage and provide the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the federal agency who runs the refuge, the ability to raise, lower and/or maintain the Blue, Fisher and Rice Lake water levels.

A public notice for this project, called the Bass Pond, Marsh and Wetland Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project, can be found here: www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Public-Notices/.

Comments concerning the proposed project will be accepted through March 11 and may be submitted to: District Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, ATTN:  Regional Planning and Environment Division North, 180 Fifth St. E., St. Paul, Minnesota 55101-1638.

As part of the comment period, the Corps and USFWS will host a public meeting about the project on Tuesday, Feb. 12, from 6-8 p.m., at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, 3815 American Blvd. East, Bloomington.

The Bass Pond Marsh and Wetland Habitat Restoration project is part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, coordinated with partners in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Learn more at www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Projects/Article/1467604/upper-mississippi-river-restoration-program-bass-ponds-marsh-wetland-habitat-re.