April 6, 2012
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VICKSBURG, Miss. — ERDC Environmental Laboratory (EL) staff recently briefed the Mississippi River Commissioners on environmental studies being conducted in the lower Mississippi River.
The Mississippi River Commissioners are comprised of the commanders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) Mississippi Valley (MVD), Great Lakes and Ohio River, and Northwest Divisions; Director (Admiral) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and three civilians appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The commissioners were briefed on the endangered pallid sturgeon, ecosystem restoration projects in the lower Mississippi River, and on how various environmental issues could affect the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Project.
ERDC, the Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee, and MVD are working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to prepare a Conservation Plan for pallid sturgeon that includes diversifying habitat.
The briefing also included ERDC's efforts during the 2011 Mississippi River flood to evaluate potential entrainment of pallid sturgeon through the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway, Morganza Floodway, and the Bonnet Carre Spillway.
Learn more about the ERDC Mississippi River Studies.