The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to initiate a study of benefits of operations of the Mississippi Headwaters dams beginning October 1997. Public meetings gathering comment about operation of these reservoirs are scheduled at eight locations in the region between July 2 and August 14. These uses frequently conflict.
Human uses tend to be favored over needs of the aquatic ecosystem, some say.
It may be desirable to tweak current operations so that the regulated flow mimics the natural flow of water in the headwaters area, with highest flows in spring and summer and lowest flows in winter. Natural flows are best for river conservation, Ian Chisholm, a DNR natural resources manager told a meeting sponsored by the Mississippi Headwaters Board in January. Changing one part of the river system changes the system. Northern pike and muskie spawn in shallow areas where last year's emergent vegetation has died back. Paul Radomski, another DNR fisheries biologist described a process where ecological and social values were considered in changing operations of dams on the Rainy Lake reservoir system.