environmental restoration on the upper mississippi river ......a look back and to the future at one...

3 rd3 rd National Conference onNational Conference onEcosystem RestorationEcosystem Restoration

Environmental Restoration on the Environmental Restoration on the Upper Mississippi River System Upper Mississippi River System ––A Look Back and to the Future at A Look Back and to the Future at

One Team: Relevant, Ready, Responsive and ReliableOne Team: Relevant, Ready, Responsive and ReliableOne Team: Relevant, Ready, Responsive and Reliable

A Look Back and to the Future at A Look Back and to the Future at Pioneering ProgramsPioneering Programs

July 23, 2009July 23, 2009Los Angeles, CALos Angeles, CA

ByByMarvin E. HubbellMarvin E. Hubbell

[email protected]@USACE.Army.Mil

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/EMP

Looking Back – Looking Forward

UMRS

1870 - Managed System (4-Foot Channel)

1940 - UMR-IWW 9-Foot Channel Project

1950 to Present - Environmental Degradation


1950 to Present - Environmental Degradation

1986 – EMP Authorized and

Vision for Multiuse System

2007 – NESP Authorized

National Significance of National Significance of Upper Mississippi River SystemUpper Mississippi River System

National Significance of National Significance of Upper Mississippi River SystemUpper Mississippi River System

Only River in the United States to be formally recognized Only River in the United States to be formally recognized

by Congress “… as a nationally significant ecosystem by Congress “… as a nationally significant ecosystem


and a nationally significant commercial navigation and a nationally significant commercial navigation system. … shall be administered and regulated in system. … shall be administered and regulated in recognition of its several purposes.”recognition of its several purposes.”

Citation: Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Section 1103(a)(2).Citation: Water Resources Development Act of 1986, Section 1103(a)(2).

UMR-IWW NAVIGATION SYSTEM

• Significant Ecosystem (2.7 million acres)

• 30 Million People

• 1,200 Miles of River

• 37 Lock Sites Constructed 1930-45


Lower Pool 16 ca. 1943Lower Pool 16 ca. 1943


Degradation of HabitatDegradation of Habitat

In the Impound Reaches In the Impound Reaches -- greatest impact greatest impact in the Lower 30% in the Lower 30% -- 50% of Pools50% of Pools

–– Loss of Topographic DiversityLoss of Topographic Diversity

Sedimentation of deep areasSedimentation of deep areas


Sedimentation of deep areasSedimentation of deep areas

Erosion of IslandsErosion of Islands

–– Higher water levels at historical low flow Higher water levels at historical low flow periods negatively impacted moist soil plantsperiods negatively impacted moist soil plants

–– Higher water table negatively impacted Higher water table negatively impacted floodplain forestsfloodplain forests

Degradation of HabitatDegradation of Habitat

In the Open River reach this resulted in a In the Open River reach this resulted in a narrowing and deepening of the main narrowing and deepening of the main channel and reduction of habitat channel and reduction of habitat complexity.complexity.


complexity.complexity.

EMP TimelineEMP Timeline

Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission (1972 (1972 –– 1981)1981)GREAT I, II, (1980) and III Studies (1982) GREAT I, II, (1980) and III Studies (1982) Upper Mississippi River Master Plan Upper Mississippi River Master Plan ––Recommendation Lock and Dam 26 & EMP Recommendation Lock and Dam 26 & EMP


Recommendation Lock and Dam 26 & EMP Recommendation Lock and Dam 26 & EMP (1982)(1982)Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (1981 Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (1981 –– Present)Present)WRDA 1986 WRDA 1986 –– EMP 1EMP 1stst. Large Scale Ecosystem . Large Scale Ecosystem Restoration and Monitoring Program In Corps, Restoration and Monitoring Program In Corps, Nation, and World.Nation, and World.

COLLABORATION


NGO’sPUBLIC

Major Components of EMPMajor Components of EMP

HREP HREP

50 Projects50 Projects

83,000 ac.83,000 ac.


Sunfish Lake, Pool 11Aug. 1994

Sunfish Lake, Pool 11Sept. 2006

WATER QUALITYWATER QUALITY

SPATIAL SPATIAL

VEGETATIONVEGETATION


FISHERIESFISHERIES

SPATIAL

ANALYSIS (GIS)

SPATIAL

ANALYSIS (GIS)

Key Regional FeaturesKey Regional Features

Partnership Partnership –– Not just a concept but a way of Not just a concept but a way of doing business. doing business.

Development of a regional Corps business Development of a regional Corps business modelmodel


modelmodel

Linkage between understanding the ecology of Linkage between understanding the ecology of the UMRS with restoration efforts of the UMRS.the UMRS with restoration efforts of the UMRS.

Adapt and develop restoration and monitoring Adapt and develop restoration and monitoring techniques for use on a large river system.techniques for use on a large river system.

$33.4 M Authorization$33.4 M Authorization

While EMP was growing up While EMP was growing up

NESP was being conceived NESP was being conceived

and then born!and then born!


and then born!and then born!

NESP TimelineNESP Timeline

1987 1987 –– 1992 IL and Miss. River Recon. Study1992 IL and Miss. River Recon. Study

1993 Navigation Feasibility Study 1993 Navigation Feasibility Study


2000 2000 –– 2004 Feasibility Study added Ecosystem 2004 Feasibility Study added Ecosystem Restoration (to compliment EMP)Restoration (to compliment EMP)

2007 WRDA Dual Purpose Authorization of First 2007 WRDA Dual Purpose Authorization of First Increment Increment -- $1.8 B Authorization$1.8 B Authorization

Key LessonsKey Lessons

Partnership Partnership –– Hallmark of EMPHallmark of EMP

–– Basis of technical, policy, and political support Basis of technical, policy, and political support and development of program.and development of program.

–– One of 3 One of 3 –– 6 national priority projects since 20016 national priority projects since 2001


–– One of 3 One of 3 –– 6 national priority projects since 20016 national priority projects since 2001

But…But…–– You can always improveYou can always improve

More formal engagement of NGO’s and More formal engagement of NGO’s and other stakeholdersother stakeholdersMore formal involvement of higher level More formal involvement of higher level managementmanagement

Key Lessons Key Lessons (cont.)(cont.)

Effective Integration of ecosystem restoration Effective Integration of ecosystem restoration and scientific monitoring and research is critical and scientific monitoring and research is critical to success. Another Hallmark of EMP.to success. Another Hallmark of EMP.

–– Monitoring Status and Trends of UMRSMonitoring Status and Trends of UMRS


–– Research Research

–– Systemic Data AcquisitionSystemic Data Acquisition

–– Monitoring Project PerformanceMonitoring Project Performance

–– Passive Adaptive Management StrategyPassive Adaptive Management Strategy

–– But …But …


Under NESP we will develop Under NESP we will develop ––

–– Strategy for Strategy for ActiveActive Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management

–– Expand project monitoring effortsExpand project monitoring efforts



Importance of learning and transfer of Importance of learning and transfer of knowledge. Last two decades:knowledge. Last two decades:

–– Planning ManualPlanning Manual

–– HREP Design ManualHREP Design Manual


–– More than 300 reports and scientific publicationsMore than 300 reports and scientific publications

–– Integrated technical and policy teamsIntegrated technical and policy teams

–– Quarterly MeetingsQuarterly Meetings

–– Data Bases and web sitesData Bases and web sites

–– Public Out ReachPublic Out Reach

–– But …But …


The future demands increasing levels of The future demands increasing levels of effort and investment in all of these areas. effort and investment in all of these areas. Especially:Especially:–– DSSDSS


–– Regional Public OutreachRegional Public Outreach

–– “Program Neutral” Communications“Program Neutral” Communications

–– Expansion of electronic communication and Expansion of electronic communication and direct contact.direct contact.

–– Increased use of modelsIncreased use of models


Transparency, Accountability and Transparency, Accountability and Sophistication must increase over time. Sophistication must increase over time. Anticipate it, plan for it, and budget for it.Anticipate it, plan for it, and budget for it.–– Evolution of project identification and Evolution of project identification and

selection:selection:


selection:selection:Initial projectsInitial projects –– Project based perspectiveProject based perspective

22ndnd GenerationGeneration –– Greater transparency, local, Greater transparency, local, reach, and systemic perspective.reach, and systemic perspective.

33rdrd GenerationGeneration –– Linkage to “codified” goals and Linkage to “codified” goals and objectives with the development of indicators to objectives with the development of indicators to measure progress. measure progress.

ConclusionConclusion

Adaptive ManagementAdaptive Management–– EMP EMP –– PassivePassive

–– NESP NESP -- ActiveActive

Ecosystem Restoration relationship to the inland Ecosystem Restoration relationship to the inland navigation systemnavigation system–– EMP EMP –– LinkedLinked


–– EMP EMP –– LinkedLinked

–– NESP NESP –– TiedTied

FundingFunding–– EMP EMP -- $33.2 M Annual $33.2 M Annual -- $500 M$500 M over 15 yrs.over 15 yrs.

–– NESP NESP -- $1.8 B$1.8 B first incrementfirst increment

Congressional Intent for EMP & NESPCongressional Intent for EMP & NESP–– Linked, Tied, and IntegratedLinked, Tied, and Integrated


[email protected]@USACE.Army.Mil

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/EMP

environmental restoration on the upper mississippi river ......a look back and to the future at one...

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