Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Habitat rehabilitation on the upper Mississippi River
Theiling, C. H., 1995, Habitat rehabilitation on the upper Mississippi River: Regulated Rivers Research & Management, v. 11, p. 227–238.
Abstract
Upper Mississippi River ecological integrity has been severely compromised by human activity during the last 50 years. In response to the continuing decline of natural resource values, two approaches for protecting and improving the Upper Mississippi River-floodplain ecosystem have been used. Habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects are being constructed at 54 locations to provide site-specific rehabilitation. The projects are designed to counteract the adverse ecological effects of sedimentation through (1) flow introductions, (2) the isolation of backwaters; and (3) flow diversions and wave breaks. Channel maintenance projects are being re-evaluated in an attempt to construct or modify existing river training structures that are environmentally sympathetic. The latter approach works with the river's energy, whereas the former attempts to overcome riverine processes. Both approaches have significant limitations because they affect limited areas. A proposal is presented that restores some ecosystem integrity by re-establishing occasional low river stages that occurred before the implementation of the Upper Mississippi River Navigation System.
Keywords: Mississippi River, Restoration, Rehabilitation, River Engineering, Navigation
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/documents/publications/1995/theiling_a_1995.html
Page Contact Information: Contacting the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
Page Last Modified:
March 7, 2011
