Corps studies plans to create Lake Pepin islands – Post-Bulletin

RED WING The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Tuesday brought another plan for Pool 4 of the Upper Mississippi River District. This one is designed to help reduce erosion and improve water quality in Lake Pepin, said study planner Sierra Keenan with the Corps.

"We're in the early stages of this study," Keenan said. The Corps is developing a plan that would place islands on the north side of Lake Pepin to provide habitat and help environmental stability in the lake. "The objectives we have are to improve habitat for waterfowl and aquatic vegetation."

Other goals of the project would be to dredge a route for motorboats to Bay City, Wis., dredge the backwaters to improve habitat for overwintering fish and improve or create new islands along the north side of Lake Pepin.

Tuesday's meeting at the Red Wing Public Library was designed to introduce the concept and gather public input. Keenan emphasized that the plan for islands in Upper Pool 4 was not related to the dredge material management plan for Lower Pool 4. The Upper Pool 4 plan would, at most, use about 1 million cubic yards of dredge material, while the Lower Pool 4 plan will need to move more than 10 million cubic yards over 40 years.

Of the 80-plus individuals who attended the meeting, several spoke up about the problems with retreating shorelines along the lake. Delbert Johnson, who lives along the lake, said the dredging usually is followed by shoreline erosion as the sand along the banks unsettled by passing boats moves to fill in the low spots.

Johnson suggested the lake needed a no-wake zone to prevent large waves from washing into the shoreline and eroding the sand.

Tom Novak, project manager with the Corps, said the no-wake zone was not likely due to the speed of barge traffic. He also said that building up the shoreline with dredge material would not be possible under the scope of the project.

As for the islands, he said it was likely two to five islands would be built in Lake Pepin along the north end.

"It's really shallow there," he said. "The islands knock the waves down. Over time, trees on the islands would knock the wind down, so you get a quiet area behind there."

Keenan said the next step was to develop a draft plan, conduct more public meetings to review the concept in 2018 and begin work in 2019.

Have some regional news from Houston, Goodhue, Wabasha or Winona County that you'd like to share? Contact Brian at 507-285-7715, or by email at btodd@postbulletin.com.