The St. Paul District, US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), has prepared this preliminary assessment of routine water level drawdowns in Pool 8 for the purpose of improving habitat. This assessment relies on existing information gained from conducting previous drawdowns in this pool and other locations, and information from operating and maintaining the 9 foot navigation project. The intended purpose of the assessment was to provide information needed to plan and initiate a feasibility-type study and National Environmental Policy Act as required by Corps policy prior to the implementation of such a plan for Pool 8. The term “drawdown” used throughout this document means operating the gates at Lock and Dam 8 so that water levels are reduced below the current allowable water levels.
