CORPS OF ENGINEERS INVOLVEMENT IN WATER RESOURCE PLANNING FOR THE ST. CROIX RIVER BASIN

Elliott L. Stefanik, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

Historically, the U.S. Army, Corps of Engineers has done limited work with water resource issues in the St. Croix Basin. Previous efforts have included navigation, regulatory (permit) activities associated with Clean Water Act and select construction projects for Flood Damage Reduction and infrastructure improvement. However, new authorities are allowing more involvement, and federal financial investment, in water resources within the basin. This has included activities with protecting endangered mussel resources, and assessing the threats and potential control of zebra mussels. Additional work also is on the horizon that could involve detailed watershed planning and assessment for future development. Watershed planning has been proposed both at the basin and sub-basin level. Such planning would assist local entities to optimize the potential for future growth with the desire to protect and improve water quality and aquatic habitat within the St. Croix Basin. Future Corps work also could include site-specific habitat improvement actions. The majority of future work through the Corps, such as watershed planning, would require a non-federal cost-share partner. Such partnerships are currently under development. Although future funding is possible through the Corps, it will only happen through continued pursuit by the public, as all Corps funding is appropriated on a “per-project” basis.