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]



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