A summary of 1991 winter water quality characteristics


Richardson, L. A. H.  1993.  A summary of 1991 winter water
quality characteristics at the Pool 8 islands Habitat
Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project, Upper Mississippi River
System.  Report prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources, Onalaska, Wisconsin, for the National Biological
Survey, Environmental Management Technical Center, Onalaska,
Wisconsin, December 1993.  EMTC 93-S016.  11 pp.  (NTIS #PB94-
152667)


ABSTRACT

Phase I of the Pool 8 Islands Habitat Rehabilitation and
Enhancement Project (HREP) was designed to improve habitat for
fish and waterfowl in an area enclosed by a U-shaped system of
islands (Horseshoe Island, river miles 684- 688).  The Phase I
project included closure of inlets at the upstream end of
Horseshoe Island in the summer of 1989.  Since July 1988, the
Wisconsin Field Station of the Long Term Resource Monitoring
Program for the Upper Mississippi River System has been
monitoring water quality (current velocity, temperature,
dissolved oxygen, turbidity, Secchi disk transparency, and
specific conductance) at one permanent sampling station within
the study area enclosed by Horseshoe Island.  Three additional
water quality stations were monitored biweekly within the study
area during winter 1990-1991, and a spatial survey of water
quality conditions was conducted on February 19, 1991.  Winter
monitoring results indicate that inlet closures reduced current
velocity in the study area to nearly undetectable levels,
dissolved oxygen concentrations remained greater than 5 mg/L with
few exceptions, and water temperatures increased.  Habitat
conditions for fish were improved, but water temperatures may
still be too low to provide suitable habitat for wintering lentic
fishes.


KEYWORDS

Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Projects, winter water
quality, Upper Mississippi River System, Horseshoe Island, Pool
8, Long Term Resource Monitoring Program, Wisconsin Department of
Natural Resources