Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment: Marsh Lake Ecosystem Resotaration Project, Minnesota River

This report was prepared in response to the study authorization contained in a Resolution of the Committee on Public Works of the U.S. House of Representatives, May 10, 1962. The resolution reads as follows: "Resolved by the Committee on Public Works of the House of Representatives, United States, that the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors be, and is hereby, requested to review the report of the Chief of Engineers on the Minnesota River, Minnesota, published as House Document 230, 74th Congress, First Session and other pertinent reports, with a view to determining the advisability of further improvements in the Minnesota River Basin for navigation, flood control, recreation, low flow augmentation, and other related water and land resources." In response to the study authority the reconnaissance phase of the study was completed in December 2004 (USACE 2004) and approved in January 2005. The reconnaissance study resulted in the finding of Federal interest in and potential solutions to several existing water resources problems that warrant feasibility studies, including ecosystem restoration at Marsh Lake. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the non-Federal sponsor, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District (Corps) initiated the feasibility phase of the study on February 2, 2006. The feasibility phase study cost was shared equally between the Corps and the sponsor. This summary is intended to describe the major factors which were considered in the investigation and influenced the decisions and recommendations documented in this report.