1. ERDC Knowledge Core
2. United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
3. Mississippi Valley Division
4. St. Paul District
5. Environmental Documents

Title:	Pigs Eye Lake Ramsey County, MN Section 204 : Feasibility Study Report with Integrated Environmental Assessment
Authors:	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. St. Paul District.
Keywords:	Dredging Dredging spoil Mississippi River Environmental protection Environmental management Saint Paul (Minn.)
Publisher:	United States. Army. Corps of Engineers. St. Paul District.
Abstract:	This Feasibility Study Report with Integrated Environmental Assessment investigates the feasibility of alternative measures to address problems and opportunities associated with the Pigs Eye Lake Continuing Authorities Program Section 204 beneficial use of dredged material project. Pigs Eye Lake is a 628-acre, shallow backwater lake, situated southeast of St. Paul, Minnesota, within Pool 2 of the Mississippi River. The project lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, established by Congress to protect, preserve, and enhance the nationally significant resources of this reach of the Mississippi River. The project area is directly adjacent to one of the largest nesting sites for colonial water birds within the state. Several species of herons, egrets, and cormorants nest in the rookery. In addition, the project area is located within the Pigs Eye Lake section of Battle Creek Regional Park, and Battle Creek flows into the north end of Pigs Eye Lake. The habitat concerns within the project area primarily include high levels of turbidity, wind-induced shoreline erosion, lack of depth diversity, and lack of shoreline habitat for birds and aquatic plants. The objectives of the project are to: 1. Improve aquatic habitat – Create depth and habitat diversity in Pigs Eye Lake. Increase acreage of aquatic vegetation. Incorporate structural habitat features to promote fisheries. 2. Improve the quantity and quality of habitat for migratory bird species – Create suitable habitat for migratory birds such as dabbling ducks within Pigs Eye Lake. 3. Maintain or enhance the quantity of shoreline habitat – Protect existing floodplain forest and marsh habitat along the shoreline of Pigs Eye Lake from wind and wave erosion. The study team identified a variety of measures that could be taken to achieve project objectives, including full and split island designs, sand benches, and creation of wetland (marsh) habitat. The measures were combined in various logical combinations to form alternative project plans. The Tentatively Selected Plan, shown in Executive Figure 1, would restore backwater habitat by creating seven islands with sand benches. Three of the islands would utilize a “split” design that would establish a sheltered area in the center, allowing for the inclusion of approximately 17.6 acres of marsh plantings. The recommended plan addresses all project objectives. Based on the certified cost estimate the plan would cost approximately $16.5 million to complete. Operations and Maintenance will pay approximately $3.2 million as part of the base plan for permanently placing dredged material. Thus, the certified cost for the Eco-system project is approximately $13.3 million. This would be the cost share portion that is applicable to the project and is used to determine per average annual habitat.
Description:	Feasibility Study Report with Integrated Environmental Assessment
Rights:	Approved for Public Release; Distribution is Unlimited
URI:	https://hdl.handle.net/11681/36953
Size:	678 pages / 33.84 MB
Types of Materials:	PDF
Appears in Collections:	Environmental Documents