a citizen’s plan for restoration, just around the bend house.pdf · a citizen’s plan for...
TRANSCRIPT
Mississippi Makeover
A Citizen’s Plan for Restoration,
Just Around the Bend
Mississippi Makeover
Project Description
Local effort to envision and plan for ecological restoration in Spring Lake, Lower Vermillion River, and Pool 3
Mississippi Makeover
Project Partners
Dakota County
Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District
MN Pollution Control Agency
MN Department of Natural Resources
Local Citizens & Organizations
Mississippi Makeover
Project Area
Mississippi Makeover
Project Goals
• Citizen-driven plan for restoration
• A healthy and restored ecosystem
– Improved water quality
– Abundant wildlife
– Recreational opportunities
– Economic vitality
• Congruent and complimentary projects among agencies
Mississippi Makeover
Spring Lake• Shallow floodplain lake within Pool 2• Adjacent to main shipping channel• Approximately 1,500 acres with average
depth of 4.3 feet• Pre-settlement floodplain forest and
marsh• Dominated by algae; very little
submerged or emergent vegetation
Mississippi Makeover
Lower Vermillion River
• Downstream section of Vermillion River
• Large forested floodplain
• Many large lakes between Vermillion and Mississippi
• Dominated by Mississippi R. during high water through dikes and sloughs
Vermillion Slough
Truedale Slough
Carter Slough
Mississippi Makeover
Mississippi River Pool 3• Confluence with St. Croix
• Xcel Energy Nuclear Plant
• Prairie Island Indian Community
• Marinas
Mississippi Makeover
Lake Pepin
• South metro Mississippi has too much sediment to meet the water quality standard
• Sediment – soil and other particles – is filling in Lake Pepin downstream
• If sediment loads continue at current rate, upper Lake Pepin will fill in within 100 years; rest of lake within 400 years
Mississippi Makeover
Project Tasks
1. Coordinators convened citizens and local stakeholders to develop indicators of successful restoration
Mississippi Makeover
Chosen Indicators SedimentationWater clarity Vegetation Invertebrates FishWaterfowl
Mississippi Makeover
Project Tasks
2. Technical experts developed ways to measure indicators
Mississippi Makeover
Project Tasks
3. Citizens partnered with technical experts to develop numeric targets for each indicator
Indicator NaturalBackground
Existing Interim Target
Long Range Target
Water ClaritySuspended Solids <10 mg/L 47 mg/L 39.5 mg/L 32 mg/L
Aquatic VegetationOccurrence 9 % 15% 21%
Lake Pepin Life Span 4,000 yrs 300 yrs 450 yrs 600 yrs
No. of Mussel Species 41 species 28 species 30 species 35 species
Mississippi Makeover
Project Tasks
4. Began to develop restoration activities including local land and river management activities
Water Level Mgmt Island Building Rough Fish Removal Land Protection Land Restoration
Mississippi Makeover
Open House
5. Public Open House Report results of Mississippi Makeover
Project to public and elected officials
Showcase potential for significant restoration
Generate support for restoration
Mississippi Makeover
For More Information:
• www.dakotaswcd.org/wshd_missmak.html