Theiling, C. H., 1995, Habitat rehabilitation on the upper Mississippi River:
Regulated Rivers Research & Management, v. 11, p. 227–238. 

Abstract

Upper Mississippi River ecological integrity has been severely compromised
by human activity during the last 50 years. In response to the continuing
decline of natural resource values, two approaches for protecting and
improving the Upper Mississippi River-floodplain ecosystem have been used.
Habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects are being constructed at 54
locations to provide site-specific rehabilitation. The projects are designed to
counteract the adverse ecological effects of sedimentation through (1) flow
introductions, (2) the isolation of backwaters; and (3) flow diversions and
wave breaks. Channel maintenance projects are being re-evaluated in an
attempt to construct or modify existing river training structures that are
environmentally sympathetic. The latter approach works with the river's
energy, whereas the former attempts to overcome riverine processes. Both
approaches have significant limitations because they affect limited areas. A
proposal is presented that restores some ecosystem integrity by re-establishing
occasional low river stages that occurred before the implementation of the
Upper Mississippi River Navigation System.

Keywords

Mississippi River/ Restoration/ Rehabilitation/ River Engineering/ Navigation