Purpose
Sedimentation of the backwater lakes of the Upper Mississippi River, including the lower Pool 4 area, is an ongoing issue. Potential sources of sand are the Chippewa River, historic channel maintenance dredging side-cast islands and the four active temporary placement sites within the study area. The extent of open water has been shrinking in Robinson Lake.
Location
The project area consists of open backwater, meandering side channels, areas adjacent to the main channel, and island formations in the Mississippi River in lower Pool 4 (river miles 759 to 756). The site is in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge near Wabasha, Minnesota.
Description
The proposed project goal is to maintain, enhance, and create habitat suitable for native and desirable aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. The Robinson Lake area has lost bathymetric diversity, floodplain forest patch size, connectivity, and interior forest habitat over time. Island creation/enhancement and dredging would be the primary tools used to counteract the losses. Increasing wild celery beds and perennial emergent vegetation within the lake would also be a way to increase opportunities for migratory waterfowl interaction.
The project seeks to protect, enhance, restore, or create backwater and flowing channel habitats that provide diverse flow conditions and sediment dynamics that will benefit native fish (including migratory species) and mussel populations. The project seeks to protect and enhance diverse bottomland forest that will benefit migratory and resident birds and other species. The project also seeks to maintain or increase the quantity and diversity of submerged, emergent, and rooted floating leaved vegetation.
Status
Project planning began January 2023. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will plan and design the project with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wisconsin and Minnesota Departments of Natural Resources, and local interests. Public meetings were held in May 2023 and February 2025 in Wabasha, Minnesota. USACE identified a Tentatively Selected Plan in November 2024 and plans to complete a feasibility study and environmental documents at the end of 2025.
Authority
Congress originally authorized the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program in Section 1103 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, Public Law 99-662 (codified as amended in 33 U.S. Code 652). Section 8345 of WRDA 2022, Public Law 117-263, increased the authorized program funding to a combined $90 million annually.
Funding
Project design and construction will be 100% federally funded. Operations and maintenance will be 100% federally funded and a responsibility of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Federal funds allocated to date $734,000