Description: The Louisville Bend site is located along the left descending bank of the Missouri River. The project site is located on approximately 1,100 acres which all but 130 acres was granted as easement through the State of Iowa; the 130 acres USACE acquired through fee-title.
- The project has upper and lower management areas where water levels can be manipulated by pumping and using downstream control structures. These management areas are separated by a middle embankment and control structure.
- The primary goal is to provide water in the main chutes of the area during the spring and summer for waterfowl production and brood rearing, and to provide flooded lowland areas and crop fields for feeding and nesting for migrating waterfowl.
- Secondary goals include restoring waterfowl nesting and riverine fish spawning, feeding, and rearing habitat. The ability to manipulate water levels allows active management for the establishment of desirable wetland classes and seasonal fish and wildlife use.
- The existing chute at Louisville Bend was closed in conjunction with the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Project (BSNP) with the placement of dikes and revetments to create a navigation channel.
- The main project elements for the mitigation at this site is re-establishing the open water and floodplain habitat. In order to reconnect the land with the river, controlled openings were constructed at the inlet and outlet of the closed chute. Because the constructed side channel is at a higher elevation than the adjacent river, a pump was also installed at the inlet to pump water to the channel during periods of low river flows. Water in the constructed chute is maintained by regulating the outlet. Restoration of this area was completed in 1995.
Status: Open to the public. Construction complete. In Operations and Maintenance.
Site Use: This site contains 270 acres of open water and is managed as a waterfowl attraction area. The mitigation site is open to the public for a variety of outdoor activities including fishing, bird watching, hiking, and hunting when in season.
Site-use Regulations:
- People visiting these areas must comply with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including hunting, fishing, etc. In general Title 36 Part 327 of the Code of Federal Regulations governs the use of Corps property. Other regulations may apply to properties owned by other federal agencies.
- Special regulations and restrictions may be posted on site.
Special-use Regulations: No target shooting or primitive camping permitted on Corps-owned land. Also see above.