Mississippi River Headwaters Reservoirs Master Plan

The Mississippi River Headwaters' Master Plan is a strategic land-use document that will serve as a vital tool for the responsible stewardship of resources to benefit present and future generations. This plan provides guidance and facilitates appropriate management, use, development, enhancement, protection, and conservation of the natural, cultural and man-made resources located at the Mississippi Headwaters Reservoirs projects. This document will guide and articulate the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' responsibilities pursuant to applicable federal laws, policies and regulations. The Master Plan is a dynamic, operational document projecting what could and should happen over the life of the project and is flexible based upon changing conditions. The Plan deals with concepts, rather than details of design or administration. Detailed management and administrative functions are addressed in each section's operational management plan, which implements the concepts of the Master Plan into operational actions. The Master Plan will include all land (fee, easements, or other interests) acquired for the project to support operations and authorized missions. Due to budget limitations, the Corps was unable to update either the mapping or the inventory of existing natural resources for the Sandy Lake Reservoir as part of the current project. These excluded components will be added to the Master Plan as a future supplement.