Vegetation Changes in Backwaters of Navigation Pools 4 and 13 of the Upper Mississippi River, 1975 to 1996
Abstract
Since the impoundment of the Mississippi River in the late 1930's, resource managers have been concerned about a reduction in habitat diversity in the Upper Mississippi River System due to sedimentation. Considerable attention has been focused on the accumulation of sediment and its possible effects on aquatic resources in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR). For example, loss of water depth provides an opportunity for rooted aquatic vegetation to colonize open waters that were originally too deep to support them. Plants, in turn, accelerate the accumulation of sediment by slowing water velocity. Successional changes, including a loss of open water and submersed vegetation and an increase in emergent and terrestrial vegetation, have been observed in Pool 19. However, lower rates of sedimentation have been observed in backwater areas of Pools 7 and 8 of the UMR. This indicates that the accumulation of sediment may be less problematic in some areas.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA365338
Entities
People
- Jennifer J. Dieck
- Robin W. Tyser