Marsh Lake ecosystem restoration project receives federal funding

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its 2016 Work Plan today, which includes $7.6 million in funding, the full cost of the project, for the Marsh Lake Ecosystem Restoration Project. 



The Marsh Lake project, near Appleton, Minnesota, is among the projects that received federal funding. The project will receive the full funding of the project of $7.6 million dollars.   



Marsh Lake is on the Minnesota River between Swift and Lac qui Parle counties near Ortonville, Minnesota.   



The Marsh Lake project involves restoring the environment by improving the waterfowl habitat and the aquatic species in the area. The restoration plan includes rerouting the Pomme de Terre River to its historic channel, constructing a drawdown structure and a fish passage at the Marsh Lake Dam and breaching the abandoned fish pond at the dam. At less than 5 percent of the average cost for a habitat restoration project of this size, this project is expected to provide significant return in environmental and habitat restoration benefits.   



Now that the project has received funding, the next steps include completing the design of the project and awarding the construction contracts.   



The Corps is working in partnership with the Upper Minnesota River Watershed District, as its non-federal sponsor, as well as other external stakeholders such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, to ensure the project’s success.  



“The commitment of full funding ensures the most efficient and effective resources to complete the project,” said Capt. Dwight Howell, St. Paul District project manager. “This enables us to restore the environment at Marsh Lake faster and at less cost to the taxpayer.” 



The work plan listing the amounts provided to various programs, projects and activities for each of the four appropriations accounts can be found at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Budget.aspx.

The nearly 600 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2015 $100 million budget, nearly 1,600 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $155 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.

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