St. Louis Army Corps of Engineers gathering public input for River Training Structure assessment

Chevrons are a type of river training structure designed as a
blunt nosed, arch shape. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo)

The St. Louis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will host two open house events to provide background information and get public feedback on the scope of an Environmental Assessment of New River Training Structures on the Middle Mississippi River.

The two open house events in Alton, IL, and Cape Girardeau, MO, will feature a brief overview of the Corps of Engineers’ river engineering mission, and information stations on River Training Structures with subject matter experts available to answer questions and get public input on what information should be considered in the assessment.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

6pm-8pm

National Great Rivers Museum - Classroom

#2 Locks and Dam Way, Alton, IL  62002

Thursday, Feb. 9

6pm-8pm

Cape Girardeau Nature Center - Multipurpose room

2289 County Park Drive

Cape Girardeau, MO  63701

River Training Structures are one of the ways the Corps of Engineers ensures America’s inland waterways are navigable for commerce, along with locks and dams, dredging, and revetments.

The St. Louis District is preparing an Environmental Assessment of new River Training Structures on the Middle Mississippi River (River Miles 195-0). Environmental Assessments are prepared in accord with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the environmental effects of a proposed action. The assessment will determine if there are substantial and relevant considerations or data regarding construction of new River Training Structures that the Corps has not considered to date, and if further study is needed. River construction activities will continue during the Environmental Assessment process.

Public comments may be submitted in person at the open house events or may be submitted electronically to RiverTrainingStructures@usace.army.mil. Information on River Training Structures and the Corps’ navigation mission can be found at the St. Louis District River Engineering web site: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/arec/riverengineering.html

Waterfowl Refuges Reopen at Wappapello Lake

Asher Creek Waterfowl Refuge at Wappapello Lake.

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District at Wappapello Lake has reopened the Asher Creek and Lost Creek Waterfowl Refuges to vehicle and boat traffic that were closed for duck season.  

The gates at Warner Davis (Corps Road #9) and Lost Creek Low Water Bridge (Corps Road #8) in the Shook area and the gate on Corps Road #10 in the Davis Schoolhouse area are now open.  

The “No Boat” buoys from Asher Creek, Lost Creek, and at Lost Creek Landing have been removed.

Wappapello Lake is currently at winter pool.  Visitors are asked to please beware of shallow water hazards such as stumps and shallow mud flats.  Boaters are recommended to follow the deeper waters of the river channel marked by mid-channel buoys.  

Be prepared for emergencies and guard against hypothermia, a cold water hazard.  Layer your clothing and stay dry and out of the wind.  As with all boating excursions, please file a float plan with a friend or relative stating when you plan to leave and return, where you plan to go, and how many will be with you.  Check the weather forecast before getting underway.  Protect yourself by wearing a U. S. Coast Guard approved, properly fitted life jacket.  With so many modern styles from which to choose, being safe has never been so comfortable.

Please feel free to contact the Wappapello Lake Project Office at (573) 222-8562 with any questions you may have. 

Extend your Christmas tree's life; help create habitats for fish

Volunteers gather uses Christmas trees to create fish
habitats at St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lakes.

Don't let your Christmas tree go to waste this year after the holidays. The St. Louis District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is encouraging local citizens to participate in the annual Christmas tree recycling program.

Donated Christmas trees are bundled together in small groups and submerged in lakes at select locations in Missouri and Illinois. These shelters provide fish with breeding areas and escape cover, proving invaluable to not only the fisheries but to anglers as well.

Artificial or flocked trees (with artificial snow) cannot be accepted. Please remove all tinsel, decorations, stands and plastic bags from the tree before delivering it to the designated collection sites.

St. Louis District drop-of location information:

Mark Twain Lake: Christmas trees can be brought to a collection site at John Spalding Boat Ramp. Christmas trees will be accepted at this location until January 31, 2011.

Structures will be placed in Mark Twain Lake in mid-March by Corps of Engineers employees, and volunteers. Anyone wishing to volunteer or wanting more information should contact Brad Stamp at the Mark Twain Lake Project Office at (573) 735-4097.

Lake Shelbyville: Trees will be collected in Shelbyville and Sullivan again this year. The designated collection site in Sullivan is at the corner of Water and Main Streets, at the recycling lot across from the Library. Trees can be dropped off inside the snow fence area on the North side of the lot. (PLEASE, DO NOT PLACE TREES ON THE PARKING LOT).

In Shelbyville, the designated collection site is the Johnstowne Mall on the West side of Shelbyville. Please place trees inside snow fence area on the grass at the Northwest corner of the parking area (PLEASE, DO NOT PLACE TREES ON THE PARKING LOT). Trees will be collected at both sites from December 26, 2011 through February 1, 2012.

A tentative date for the placement of the trees into the lake is March 10, 2012. Volunteers are needed to help bundle and place the trees in the lake. For more information on this fish habitat project, contact Ken Pierson at (217) 774-3951, ext 4 or Mike Mounce at (217) 345-2420.

Rend Lake: Christmas trees can be dropped off at any of the following three boat ramps or parking lots locations: Sugar Creek Parking Lot, located at the intersection of Licata and Mine 24 Roads; Dam West Boat Ramp, located on the west end of the main dam; or Jackie Branch Boat Ramp located north of Rt. 154 across from the Barren Township building. Christmas trees will be accepted at these locations until January 16, 2012.

Volunteers with boats and/or fishing and outdoor organizations are encouraged to assist with placement of the trees. To volunteer or for more information contact Molly Rawlinson at the Rend Lake Project Office at 618-724-2493.

Wappapello Lake: Christmas trees can be brought to a collection site at Chaonia Landing and Redman Creek boat ramps. Each drop-off location will be marked with a sign. Christmas trees will be accepted at this location from December 26, 2011, through January 15, 2012.

If you would like more information or have questions about Christmas tree shelters or placing fish shelters in the lake, please contact Park Ranger Jeremy Jackson at the Wappapello Lake Project Office at (573) 222-8562.

Teaching an old dredge new tricks: Army’s oldest dredge creates new habitat

Flexible dredge pipe connects to the USACE Dredge Potter.

(Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District)

The endangered Least Tern may have a new island to call home on the Mississippi River thanks to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District, the Dredge Potter and a flexible, floating dredge pipe.

Historically, the Least Tern nested on sandbars along the Mississippi River. The establishment of navigational pools, repeated flooding and an increase in recreational activities along the river has led to the decline of the population. 

As part of a pilot project during this year’s dredging season, the St. Louis District reused dredged material to build small islands using a flexible floating dredge pipe. 

“The flexible floating dredge pipe provides the St. Louis District opportunities to create a diversity of aquatic habitats such as sand islands and shallow water habitats in areas where it may not be possible without the use of dredged material,” Brian Johnson, biologist with the St. Louis District said.   

Each year dredging is performed on the Mississippi River in order to keep it open to the Congressionally-mandated depth for river traffic. Historically, dredged material placement locations and options have been limited by both equipment constraints and cost.  

When feasible, dredged material is recycled for beneficial uses within the river. Reuse is the preferred approach by the Corps of Engineers, and the St. Louis District is always seeking out innovative and creative ways to accomplish this task. 

“Our partners and stakeholders have challenged us to find more ways to reuse dredged material in an environmentally friendly way,” Johnson said. 

USACE Dredge Potter crew assembles flexible dredge pipe.

(Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District)

The Potter crew spent most of the off season prepping the dredge for the use of the flexible floating dredge pipe.

“It took a lot of planning ahead and creative ideas to make this happen,” Lance Engle dredge manager with the St. Louis District said.

Traditionally, the use of standard dredging practices limited the opportunity to reuse dredged material as sandbar or island habitat because of the physical limits of the rigid metal disposal pipe that is used.  

“Normally dredged material is side-cast along the main channel border in a linear fashion, resulting in a long, narrow disposal bar that is limited in size, elevation, and location,” Engle explained.

A St. Louis District experiment with flexible floating dredge pipe in 2005 led to the idea of using it to create islands and sandbars on the Middle Mississippi River. Demonstration projects by the New Orleans and Mobile Districts helped develop the idea and prepare the dredge crew for the new challenge.

Flexible dredge pipe helps create more diverse habitats.
(Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District)

The pipe’s flexibility allows the Dredge Potter to place dredged material in a specific location as it moves. This allows material to build up to create sandbars and island habitats in various shapes, sizes and elevations in the Middle Mississippi River while maintaining the navigation channel. 

These types of habitats are essential for the nesting and spawning of various fish and wildlife species such as the Least Tern.  

“The new method allows creation of more diverse environments for wildlife than traditional dredging methods,” Johnson added.  “These islands are often remote, providing protection from predators, boats and humans.” 

The flexible floating dredge pipe allows the St. Louis District to keep the river safe and open for navigation in an environmentally sensitive way.

“In the future, we hope this will be the way we do business,” Johnson said. “Eventually we hope to use the Dredge Potter not only for navigational purposes but for environmental management purposes as well.”