Wells Creek flows into Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River after passing through Frontenac State Park in Minnesota. Naturally dynamic, its flow and course have exhibited big changes over time. It runs through erosive terrain where sediment flows easily and is exacerbated by a century+ of agricultural land use. Its trout populations have been successfully re-established, but sediment concerns are rising again. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is now poised to designate Wells as impaired for aquatic life due to excess sediment.
Read MoreGilbert Creek: now proposed as exceptional water body
Gilbert Creek is a small trout stream that flows through northern Wabasha County, cuts across the easternmost corner of Goodhue County, and enters Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River just north of Lake City, MN. In 2011, it was listed as an impaired tributary due to elevated E-coli and poor fish populations and habitat. Since then, the fish populations and habitat have improved remarkably.
Read MoreThe Path to Habitat Restoration in Lake Pepin & the Upper Mississippi River
For decades, many people have yearned to see Lake Pepin benefit from restoration via the dynamic Upper Mississippi River Restoration program. But the dream has been thwarted largely because the area is not federally owned. So, unlike projects on federal lands, the Lake Pepin restoration requires a substantial local funding contribution, a non-federal sponsor to manage the area after construction, and the complex coordination of numerous project stakeholders—all formidable challenges. LPLA has instrumentally paved the way for restoration to proceed through its hard work to remove or mitigate obstacles. Its leadership and accomplishments showcase the irrefutable value in having a local voice for the river.
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