Beaver Island Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Projects

The Beaver Island Habitat Rehabilitation and Enhancement Project (HREP) is in Clinton County, Iowa, between Camanche and Clinton, in Pool 14 on the Upper Mississippi River. The project area comprises interconnected backwaters, secondary channels, wetlands, and floodplain habitat. The complex of backwaters and wetlands has historically provided spawning, nursery, and overwintering habitat for fish and feeding and resting habitat for migratory water birds.

During the project, RES was focused on timber stand improvements such as tree releases, girdling, restoration of native floodplain forest vegetation, and other interspersed tree plantings. The treatment areas are located on the downstream half of Beaver Island, in Navigation Pool 14 near Clinton, Iowa, from river miles 516 to 513. In total, this task order included approximately 123 acres of enhancement area.

As a sub to Red Bison, LLC, RES staff performed all Timber Stand Improvement work, including identifying and marking all trees to be cut or girdled and all free and geometric thinning to release desirable trees. RES staff also supported the sourcing of plant material and transportation of plants from shore to the island, conducted all plant layouts, and recorded GPS locations for approximately 4,000 containerized native trees and shrubs. RES also served as the contractor’s on-site quality control manager during TSI and planting activities.

The Upper Mississippi River Restoration (UMRR) Program, authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, provided funding for this HREP. The UMRR is the first environmental restoration and monitoring program undertaken on a large river system in the United States.