Photo By Samantha Heilig | The water along Sabula Lake laps up against the rocks. Set for restoration as a part...... read more read more
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is moving forward with plans to restore a portion of the Sabula Lakes complex located in Pool 13 of the Upper Mississippi River near Sabula, Iowa. This effort is part of the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP), which is a first-of-its-kind initiative that integrates navigation improvements with large-scale ecosystem restoration. The project, which is anticipated to cost more than $10 million, aims to revitalize 257 acres of critical backwater habitat.
“Over the years, the Sabula Lakes complex has experienced habitat degradation due to reduced hydrologic connectivity to the main stem of the river, shallow water depths, overpopulation of aquatic nuisance species, increased nutrient cycling, and loss of aquatic diversity,” said Elizabeth Bruns, lead water quality engineer on the project. “These changes have
impacted critical habitats for native fish and aquatic plants, waterfowl, and other wildlife species. The restoration project aims to reverse these trends by increasing depth diversity and quality of backwater habitat.”
Proposed restoration features for the area include dredging to increase water depth, using dredged material to construct islands, installing a fish barrier to reduce access to spawning habitat heavily used by nuisance fish species, and building fish habitat structures to create habitat diversity.
“These actions will help improve backwater habitat for native fish, promote native vegetation growth, and enhance resting and feeding habitat for migratory birds,” said Bruns.
Every ecosystem restoration project on the Mississippi River is different, but this one is particularly unique due to its proximity to the city of Sabula and the community’s strong interest in the project.
“The majority of our projects are more remote and don’t often involve potential impacts to a levee or a city’s infrastructure,” said Bruns. “This one being located next to ‘Iowa’s Island City’ presented a new level of special considerations for us during the planning phase.”
A tentatively selected plan for the project was recently finalized and is now available for public review on the project’s website at: www.mvr.usace.army.mil/nesp/sabula-lakes/. The public comment period is open until June 20. Construction is anticipated to take approximately two years to complete.
“NESP represents a balanced approach to river management,” said Andrew Goodall, program manager. “It recognizes that the Mississippi River is both an economic lifeline and an ecological treasure.”
By combining navigation reliability with environmental restoration, NESP aims to support the long-term sustainability of the river system. The Sabula Lakes restoration, along with other habitat restoration projects across the basin, is expected to deliver lasting ecological benefits for fish, wildlife, and the surrounding communities.
For more information on the Sabula Lakes Project or the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program, visit www.mvr.usace.army.mil or contact the Rock Island District at 309-794-4200.
| Date Taken: | 05.20.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.21.2025 15:43 |
| Story ID: | 498578 |
| Location: | SABULA, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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