Mississippi River Kings Island Channel Restoration

This project involves the restoration of fish habitat within a 5,000 linear foot side channel of the Mississippi River in the City of Anoka. Along with fish other species that will benefit from the restoration and freqent side channels include amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and mollusks (FEMAT 1993). In the 1960's two land bridges with 36-inch culverts were developed across the channel to allow access for gravel mining on the island. The culverts and other instream obstructions have eliminated the natural transport of fine sediments. As a result the channel depths have been reduced significantly and the pool habitats have filled in with sediments. This project will remove the land bridges, restore the depths of the side channel and expose the gravel bottom (riffle sections) of the stream. There will be 26 root wad structures postioned to restore pool and shelter habitat for fish.