District Projects2

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District Projects3

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Contact

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
St. Paul District
Programs & Project Management

332 Minnesota St., Suite E1500
St. Paul, MN 55101

(651) 290-5755

cemvp-pm@usace.army.mil

Navigation: Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project Maintenance

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published April 15, 2025
Updated: April 15, 2025
Purpose

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for maintaining a 9-foot navigation channel as an important component of the inland navigation system.

Location

The St. Paul District is responsible for maintaining 244 miles of the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project from the head of navigation at Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Guttenberg, Iowa. The navigation project also includes the lower navigable portions of the Minnesota, St. Croix, and Black rivers.

Description

The St. Paul District navigation project is achieved primarily by a series of 13 locks and dams and channel maintenance. Channel maintenance is required to ensure safe, reliable navigation and consists of multiple methods:

  • Dredging
  • Channel control structures such as wing dams, closing dams and bank revetments
  • Debris or “snag” removal
  • Accurate channel marking
  • Close monitoring of river bottom conditions

Since 2012, USACE has dredged an average of 1,069,000 cubic yards annually at 35 locations using both federal and contract hydraulic and mechanical dredges. USACE extensively plans and actively manages dredged material placement for beneficial use, using innovative, revolutionary, and technological solutions, including habitat and recreation activities, all while improving navigation safety and reducing dredging requirements. Since 2012, 100% of dredged material in the St. Paul District has been used beneficially.

Status

Minimal channel widths and depths are present in a few areas and will require additional dredging to allow unrestricted navigation. Coordination and flexibility with stakeholders and the public is crucial. USACE has developed operational agreements with state regulatory agencies and frequently engages stakeholders and local communities.

Capacity at temporary dredged material placement sites is maintained by periodically rehandling material to permanent locations as necessary. The district continues to develop dredged material management plans and has completed plans for pools 2, 4, 5 and 6. Dredged material management plans for pools 9 and 10 and Lower Pool 3/Upper Pool 4 are currently underway.

Authority

Congress authorized the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project via the Rivers and Harbors Act on July 3, 1930. Channel maintenance is 100% federally funded except for short segments of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and on the Minnesota River. Nonfederal sponsors are responsible for furnishing dredged material placement sites on those segments.

Funding

The cost of channel maintenance for the district is approximately $30 million annually, and funding needs continue to increase, partially due to the increased cost of managing dredged material.


Navigation: Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project Maintenance

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District
Published April 15, 2025
Updated: April 15, 2025
Purpose

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for maintaining a 9-foot navigation channel as an important component of the inland navigation system.

Location

The St. Paul District is responsible for maintaining 244 miles of the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project from the head of navigation at Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Guttenberg, Iowa. The navigation project also includes the lower navigable portions of the Minnesota, St. Croix, and Black rivers.

Description

The St. Paul District navigation project is achieved primarily by a series of 13 locks and dams and channel maintenance. Channel maintenance is required to ensure safe, reliable navigation and consists of multiple methods:

  • Dredging
  • Channel control structures such as wing dams, closing dams and bank revetments
  • Debris or “snag” removal
  • Accurate channel marking
  • Close monitoring of river bottom conditions

Since 2012, USACE has dredged an average of 1,069,000 cubic yards annually at 35 locations using both federal and contract hydraulic and mechanical dredges. USACE extensively plans and actively manages dredged material placement for beneficial use, using innovative, revolutionary, and technological solutions, including habitat and recreation activities, all while improving navigation safety and reducing dredging requirements. Since 2012, 100% of dredged material in the St. Paul District has been used beneficially.

Status

Minimal channel widths and depths are present in a few areas and will require additional dredging to allow unrestricted navigation. Coordination and flexibility with stakeholders and the public is crucial. USACE has developed operational agreements with state regulatory agencies and frequently engages stakeholders and local communities.

Capacity at temporary dredged material placement sites is maintained by periodically rehandling material to permanent locations as necessary. The district continues to develop dredged material management plans and has completed plans for pools 2, 4, 5 and 6. Dredged material management plans for pools 9 and 10 and Lower Pool 3/Upper Pool 4 are currently underway.

Authority

Congress authorized the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project via the Rivers and Harbors Act on July 3, 1930. Channel maintenance is 100% federally funded except for short segments of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and on the Minnesota River. Nonfederal sponsors are responsible for furnishing dredged material placement sites on those segments.

Funding

The cost of channel maintenance for the district is approximately $30 million annually, and funding needs continue to increase, partially due to the increased cost of managing dredged material.