This letter is in response to the story, “St. Paul activists question $16 million project to put islands in Pig’s Eye Lake,” published Aug. 4.

The goal of the Pig’s Eye Lake Islands project, which was developed in concert with our partner Ramsey County, is to improve habitat conditions of this valuable aquatic resource. This project fits in with the Corps’ environmental mission to “preserve, restore and protect” the natural environment, and we are excited about it, because it’s right in our backyard.

Sedimentation, low transparency and nutrient loading have caused the water quality and habitat value in Pigs Eye Lake to be poor. Additional factors, such as wind fetch and high rough-fish populations, are also impacting the water and habitat quality. This project includes constructing seven islands out of clean dredged material from Pool 2 (north of Hastings, Minnesota) to improve the ecosystem. The islands we build will reduce wind and wave action, improve vegetation, create thermal shelter for waterfowl and reduce shoreline erosion.

The project was planned with input and has received substantial support from natural resource agencies and enthusiast groups such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Friends of the Mississippi River and others.

Clean dredged material will be used in the construction of the project. Main channel sediments are routinely tested for contamination as part of our dredging program. Results of the testing are publicly available and were incorporated into the Pigs Eye Lake project planning and report. The material is suitable for constructing safe aquatic habitat based on Minnesota Sediment Quality Target guidelines and for upland recreational use based on Minnesota Soil Reference Value guidelines. Testing to date has been coordinated with and reviewed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Metropolitan Council, as well as all other natural resource agencies.

The 400,000 cubic yards of dredged material will be used to create the islands and marsh with a total area of 33.9 acres. The footprint of the project features is approximately 5.4 percent of the total water surface area of Pig’s Eye Lake (628 acres). The islands will reduce wind-generated waves, which would improve boating opportunities for recreationists.

We value public participation in our projects. An Environmental Assessment was prepared and distributed by the Corps to the public and an Environmental Assessment Worksheet was prepared and published by Ramsey County.

The public was provided the feasibility report on this project and had an opportunity to comment on the plans in March and April of 2018. For more information on this project and access to the feasibility report, please visit our website at: https://www.mvp.usace.army.mil/Home/Projects/Article/570917/continuing-authorities-program-beneficial-use-of-dredge-material-section-204-pi/.

Kevin Wilson

The author is deputy district engineer for programs and project management, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

Don’t just guess what’s going on at Pig’s Eye Lake

I am writing to help clear up a few misconceptions from a recent article questioning the Corps of Engineers’ proposal to put dredge material to beneficial use in building islands in Pigs Eye Lake.

I have witnessed the degradation of every back channel and backwater in Pool 2 over the last five decades. Since our founding in 2011, this trend has spurred Friends of Pool 2 to campaign for habitat enhancement for our backwaters. Because of strict MNDNR/FEMA flood impact restrictions and funding challenges, Pool 2 has fallen behind other downriver pools, where the Corps has successfully executed a multitude of habitat island projects. These projects, typically located in backwater areas, have completely transformed once “watery deserts” into productive habitat for all types of the River’s flora and fauna. A project at Weaver Bottoms lessened wind fetch, a major problem that keeps the bottom of Pigs Eye Lake continually stirred up. This allows aquatic plants to take root and improves water clarity. The last trip I took down there allowed me to see five feet down to the bottom! This is just one of the many island building projects that the Corps has completed in other pools, and all were constructed with dredge material.

At this point, the only thing on the bottom of Pigs Eye Lake is muck and goldenrod plants which are remnants of when the area was a meadow and wetland. Creating islands to assist in nurturing the largest great blue heron and egret rookery on the Upper Mississippi and what is becoming an annual stop for migrating white pelicans can only add to the rich wildlife refuge in our midst. This resource, surrounded by an urban area, is unlike anything seen elsewhere in the large cities of the Upper Mississippi.

The Mississippi River is a living system, and anything we can do to improve our part of it is worth it. Now, if we can just do the same for River, Baldwin, Moore’s, and Spring Lakes in Pool 2, we would really have something impressive happening in lower Pool 2.

We encourage people to contact our group (www.friendsofpool2.org) and we may be able to assist you in actually getting out on the River in Pool 2 instead of guessing what is going on from the riverbanks and bluffs.