BAY CITY – Work has begun on the Upper Pool 4 Islands Complex Project in Bay City, celebrated by a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, May 16 with Gov. Tony Evers in attendance.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, along with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, plans to construct islands in the Mississippi River at the head of Lake Pepin to restore backwater habitat that lies within the Pierce County Islands Wildlife Management Area, according to information obtained from Bay City Clerk Kim Lunda. The state established this area, located between Mississippi River miles 785 and 790, to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, water birds, fish and other wildlife species, and to provide educational and recreational opportunities to the public.

“This is a major habitat restoration for waterfowl and fish and dredging of the area and they are going to build an island to try to prevent the silt from coming into this area like we have now,” Lunda said. “We are still looking for funding for some of the habitat restoration but so far the funding is over $33 million.”

The project was one of 10 projects selected out of 95 proposals submitted throughout the United States for a pilot program to use dredged material to improve habitat. Those selected are believed to be good candidates for providing environmental, economic and social benefits. The Corps will use dredged material from Reads Landing Dredged Material Placement Site in Lower Pool 4 (located just north of Wabasha, Minn.) to construct the islands. The project may use up to 300,000 cubic yards of dredged material.

Current objectives for the restoration project include:

1. Increase the health, diversity and acreage of emergent and floating leafed aquatic vegetation.
2. Increase the health, diversity and acreage of submerged aquatic vegetation.
3. Improve and increase the quantity and quality of wetland habitat for backwater waterfowl species.
4. Protect existing shoreline habitat and increase the linear feet of sheltered bank and associated littoral habitat for use by marsh and water birds, shorebirds, aquatic mammals, amphibians and reptiles.
5. Improve and increase the overall health and quantity of floodplain forest.
6. Improve or maintain the quantity and quality of habitat for riverine aquatic species.
7. Increase the quantity and quality of backwater fish habitat.

Speakers at the event included Johnny Johnson, council president of the Prairie Island Indian Community; Adam Payne, Secretary Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Bay City Village President Roger Spindler, Red Wing Mayor Mike Wilson, Col. Eric Swenson, district engineer of the St. Paul District, Corps of Engineers; Rylee Hince, executive director of the Lake Pepin Legacy Alliance and Master of Ceremonies Brenda Kelly, project manager for the Wisconsin DNR.

See next week’s Journal for coverage of the event.