{"id":21117,"date":"2025-02-07T11:40:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-07T17:40:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/?post_type=built-projects&p=21117"},"modified":"2025-02-07T11:40:26","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T17:40:26","slug":"environmental-pool-management","status":"publish","type":"built-projects","link":"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/built-projects\/environmental-pool-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Pool Management"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This project is featured in Engineering With Nature: An Atlas, Volume 2<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Upper Mississippi River, Missouri, United States<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving ecological conditions through water management.<\/strong>\u00a0In the early 1990s, state and federal natural resource partners on the Upper Mississippi River asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)\u2013St. Louis District to modify lock and dam operations at Lock and Dam 24 in Clarksville, Missouri; Lock and Dam 25 in Winfield, Missouri; and Melvin Price Lock and Dam in Alton, Illinois, to improve ecological conditions. To accomplish this, the St. Louis District increased the growth of aquatic vegetation during the summer while maintaining the authorized 9-foot (2.7-meter) navigation channel and staying within existing operating limits, a technique now known as environmental pool management. Over 30\u201340 days, the decrease in surface water elevations for about 160 kilometers exposes mudflats along riverbanks, around the perimeter of islands, and on the interior sloughs of islands, establishing optimal growing conditions. In 2015, the district began targeting 90 days of operation during the growing season, resulting in over 110 days of plant growth each year and reestablishing a perennial vegetation community of native arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia<\/em>) last seen in 1993. Monitoring efforts reveal improved sediment consolidation, fish and wildlife habitat, and critical pollinator habitat. With environmental pool management, the district has achieved ecosystem benefits while maintaining a safe and dependable navigation channel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
USACE and agency staff meet on-site in Pool 25 to discuss project results. (Photo by Dawn Lamm, USACE St. Louis District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Producing Efficiencies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Environmental pool management practices have consistently produced over 400 hectares of vegetation per year for little to no additional cost above normal operations. The technique consists of analyzing daily flow conditions and making corresponding gate changes at each of the three locks and dams to maintain targeted surface water elevations while also staying within authorized operating limits. Successful implementation has resulted in one of the largest and most efficient habitat restoration projects on the Mississippi River.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"A
Native nodding smartweed (Polygonum lapathifolium) flowering at Stag Island in Pool 25 in 2016. (Photo by Ben McGuire, USACE St. Louis District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Green
Alton Lake in lower Pool 26 in August 2017. Photo shows mature annual vegetation with seedheads of native Walter\u2019s millet (Echinochloa walteri), which provides forage for migratory waterfowl and enhanced habitat for other wildlife. (Photo by Ben McGuire, USACE St. Louis District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Using Natural Processes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Environmental pool management restores form and function to the river by reestablishing natural processes and reducing large and rapid fluctuations in pool level. Managing for reduced water levels during the growing season mimics the natural cycle that existed prior to construction of the lock and dam system on the Upper Mississippi River system, allowing for the growth of aquatic plants. Environmental pool management has also increased the natural geomorphic processes in the river, such as island building. This sediment consolidation helps maintain and enhance important river habitat types.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Broadening Benefits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

While mitigating fluctuations in pool level benefits the navigation industry, river-based commerce, and the recreating public, the acres of vegetation produced provide important foraging habitat to waterfowl using the Mississippi Flyway. In 2017, the pools produced an estimated 950,000 kilograms of seeds, which waterfowl use during their winter migration. In duck energy days\u2014the energy used by one duck for one day\u2014these seeds can sustain the metabolic requirements of over eight million migrating ducks for one day. During the migration back north, the decaying plants cause a surge of aquatic invertebrates, fueling waterfowl returning to northern breeding grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Satellite
Alton Lake in lower Pool 26 showing water elevations at or near normal pool in May 2017. (Image from Digital Globe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Satellite
Photo of Alton Lake in lower Pool 26 in May 2020 when water elevations were lowered for environmental pool management, prior to vegetation growth. (Image from Digital Globe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Satellite
Alton Lake in lower Pool 26 in July 2018 when water elevations were lowered for environmental pool management, while vegetation is growing. (Image from Digital Globe)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Promoting Collaboration<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

For over 25 years, this project has forged successful relationships, leading to incredible levels of cooperation between federal, state, local, and public partners. Success starts with discussions in early spring and, during active implementation, weekly coordination between all stakeholders. Collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the Sustainable Rivers Project, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, American Rivers, Upper Mississippi Basin Association, Audubon Society, the navigation industry, and numerous other stakeholders has been key to effectively balancing the economic, ecological, and social benefits derived from the river.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":21118,"template":"","tags":[117,95],"project-categories":[],"class_list":["post-21117","built-projects","type-built-projects","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-pg-mississippivalley","tag-pg-stlouis"],"yoast_head":"\nEnvironmental Pool Management - Engineering With Nature<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/built-projects\/environmental-pool-management\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Environmental Pool Management - Engineering With Nature\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This project is featured in Engineering With Nature: An Atlas, Volume 2. 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