ADAPTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT APPLIED TO THE
UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER: A DEMONSTRATION OF MODELS

Barry Johnson1, Robert Gaugush2, and Steve Light3
1USGS, Upper Mississippi Science Center, Box 818, La Crosse, WI
54601;
2USGS, Environmental Management Technical Center, 575 Lester
Avenue, Onalaska, WI 54650; 
3Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Office of Planning, 500
Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155-4010

  Adaptive environmental assessment (AEA) is a process that draws
on the experience and knowledge of multiple stakeholders to develop
a common understanding of a specific resource management problem. 
This common understanding is translated into computer models that
can be used to probe both the extent of that understanding and
potential solutions to the problem.  An AEA process was begun for
the Upper Mississippi River with a scoping workshop in December
1995, where 50 participants identified key resource issues and
system boundaries, defined critical processes and relationships, and
described potential policy actions and response indicators.  A
modeling team then constructed two computer models that were
evaluated during a second workshop in January 1997.  Both models
are based on the fundamental river processes of water and sediment
movement, but operate at different spatial scales: one is a river
system model, the other is a single-pool model.
  The river system model tracks the flow of water and sediment
among pools and can be used to simulate alternative stage height
policies for one or more pools, taking into account natural variation in
flows and the operating constraints of the lock and dam system.  A
navigation/economic component translates the effects of stage
policies, which influence channel depth and sediment deposition, into
changes in dredging needs and shipping potential.  This 1-dimensional
model is currently programmed for pools 2 through 10, and can
display graphical or tabular results for sediments, discharge, stage,
and shipping activity.  
  The 2-dimensional pool model has been developed with Pool 8 as
the test case.  The model tracks water elevation and depth, flow
direction, wind energy, and sediment deposition and resuspension, as
well as vegetation response, on a monthly time step over a 1-hectare
grid.  Responses of each variable are viewed with on-screen maps. 
Alternative stage management policies can be simulated to assess
their effects on aquatic and terrestrial habitats.  Topography within a
pool can be changed to investigate the effect of water depth, training
structures, islands, or levees on model variables. 
  Both models will be demonstrated and available for examination
during the poster session.  

Keywords: Adaptive management, Mississippi River, model,
hydrology, sediments, economics

1.    Barry Johnson, Upper Mississippi Science Center, Box 818, La
      Crosse, WI 54601; phone 608/783-6451; fax 608/783-6066;
      Barry_Johnson@nbs.gov
2.    Prefer poster paper.  NOTE - We will need a 4' X 8' poster board
      with table space (3' X 8' in front of or beside the poster board) to
      set up 1 or 2 computers to demonstrate the models.
3.    Not a student.