Mike Griffin has notified us that the public meeting for Pool 9 small drawdown is scheduled for Feb 6 from 6-9 at the Lansing community center. He is at [log in to unmask] Pool wide drawdowns are a new management pool being tried out on the Upper Mississippi to help settle out sediments and consolidate them and enhance the growth of emergent aquatic plants in backwater areas and improve water quality and habitat. Previous trials have proved useful and may provide one of the most cost-effective solutions for habitat restoration. Pool drawdowns have drawn criticism from boaters who are impeded by low waters around their marinas or favorite beaches, etc.. We need turnout at these meetings to help get across the point that these are temporary, anticipated to be down only every three to five years in a particular pool, and we long term are developing responses to aid boaters that might be affected, particularly at marinas. But important to help them understand this is a critical ecosystem management tool that is vitially needed. Mark Mark N. Beorkrem Program Consultant Mississippi River Basin Alliance P.O. Box 370 204 N. Wyandotte St. Morrisonville, IL 62546 217-526-4480 office/home 314-882-8425 cell 217-526-4449 fax email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp