Cranberry Bend Scheme Makes Progress

The Missouri River Recovery Program’s Cranberry Bend Project, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is progressing very well.

Construction of this side-channel chute, and moving an existing levee further inland, will create 41 acres of aquatic habitat with the intent to benefit the endangered pallid sturgeon and other native fish and wildlife along the river and improve floodplain connectivity to 450 acres of land.

ESI Contracting of Kansas City, Mo., was awarded the construction contract. Work started this past winter and is overseen by the Kansas City District’s Resident Office.

Construction preparation began in the winter, but with warmer weather finally making a debut, the project site work has really kicked off and large-scale construction efforts have begun.

This project incorporates beneficial reuse of material to create in-channel habitats in the river margins. Once the new levee is complete, the old levee will be notched and the chute will open up. Additionally, the old island at the project site will be enhanced and new wetlands and a sandbar will be created.

New dikes will be constructed and old dikes extended to ensure the navigation channel is maintained. Dike modifications will also help sustain the new sandbar near the island.

Due to construction, the Cranberry Bend site is temporarily closed to public access and will reopen following completion of the project, anticipated in the fall of 2015.

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