Development of the Nauvoo Point Plant Beds

by J. Rodger Adams, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL, USA,
Nani G. Bhowmik, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL, USA,
Frank S. Dillon, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL, USA,
Richard V. Anderson, Illinois State Water Survey, Champaign, IL, USA,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: Water Forum '86: World Water Issues in Evolution

Abstract:

In Pool 19, Mississippi River, the accumulation of sediment has resulted in soft-substrate benthic communities or macrophyte beds. Three areas in the downstream 12 miles of the 46. 3 mile long navigation and hydropower pool have been radically changed by sedimentation. At the first two fingernail clams, mayfly larvae, and submerged plants have become established in the deposited sediments. The Nauvoo Point area has a progression of biotic communities from fingernail clams and mayfly larvae near the main channel, to submerged plants, another band of benthic organisms, emergent lotus, arrowhead, cattail-bulrush, and willow as the water depth decreases from 6. 5 ft to zero. Expansion of the plant beds has been documented for over 35 years. The willow-covered island has extended downstream about 1200 ft since 1964.

Subject Headings: Sediment | Vegetation | Rivers and streams | Power plants | Hydro power | Bed materials | Submerging | Mississippi River

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