ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, awarded a $6.3 million contract to Dubuque Barge and Fleeting (doing business as Newt Marine Service) of East Dubuque, Illinois, Aug. 12, for the construction of the Reno Bottoms Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project on the Upper Mississippi River near New Albin, Iowa.
Reno Bottoms has been severely degraded in recent years due to extensive tree mortality caused by recent high-water events and sedimentation in the backwaters resulting from erosion throughout the Mississippi River watershed. This project aims to increase the quality and extent of floodplain forest habitat and expand fisheries overwintering habitat.
Work under this contract will include the construction of a partial closure structure, habitat dredging, island enhancement, and shoreline protection in Ice Haul Slough near Millstone Landing.
Ice Haul Slough is located in Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The project sponsor is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Construction is anticipated to be completed by 2030. Additional stages of work targeting Army Road and surrounding forests will be completed under future contracts, pending available funding.
This project is part of the Upper Mississippi River Restoration program. This program ensures the coordinated development and enhancement of the Upper Mississippi River system with a primary emphasis on habitat restoration projects and resource monitoring. In the 40-year history of the program, more than 62 habitat projects benefiting approximately 120,000 acres from Minneapolis to St. Louis, have been completed.
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