Environmental Enhancement of Infrastructure
Soo Locks Fish Habitat Restoration Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, United States
The Soo Locks project is an example of integrating Engineering With Nature (EWN) practices and principles with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) water operations activities. The flow out of Lake Superior is controlled by man-made water retention structures that form a dam across the head of the St. Marys River, controlled by Compensating (Comp) Works gates. Immediately downstream of the gates, the St Marys Rapids is approximately 28 hectares of large rock substrate and fast-flowing water habitat. Comp works gate position adjustments have historically been made using manual cranks, resulting in quick gate position adjustments, causing flow rates and water levels in the Rapids to change abruptly, negatively impacting fish habitat by stranding fish when gates are closed and flushing out eggs and fry when gates are opened. This project, implemented by USACE Detroit District, modeled the local hydrodynamics of the river so that automation of four of the Comp Works gates via electric motors can be optimized to improve fish habitat immediately downstream; the automation of the gates is scheduled to be completed by 2018.
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