during project construction as fill for railroad relocation, access roads, and 

 a construction plant area to be placed on the south bank of the river near the 

 intake structure at the head of the Falls. Once construction is completed, 

 approximately 4.5 ha (11 acres) would be restored and revegetated as wildlife 

 habitat. NLI's proposed habitat restoration plan is as follows: 



Appropriate fill materials will be used to raise the level of the 

 construction plant and spoil disposal areas above the project pool 

 level, and to provide a gradual slope extending from the relocated 

 railroad embankment into the reservoir. The area thus treated and 

 revegetated with appropriate species will provide terrestrial ri- 

 parian habitat and shallow water habitat along the new shoreline. 

 Creation of small coves along this shoreline will restore water- 

 fowl and shorebird areas. If deemed appropriate, the gradual slope 

 could be extended into the reservoir with underwater placement of 

 rubble and boulders in order to provide suitable substrate for ben- 

 thic insects. 



The area for the proposed habitat restoration will extend along 

 the left embankment from the dam to approximately 1,219 m (4,000 ft) 

 upstream. The average width will be about 19.8 m (65 ft) and the total 

 surface area will be 4.5 ha (11 acres) (Figure W-32). Prior to place- 

 ment of spoil material in the construction plant and spoil disposal 

 areas, the sandy topsoil will be stripped and stockpiled. After dam 

 construction is completed, sufficient spoil material will be placed to 

 form a gradual slope from near the top of the left embankment to the 

 water surface. The new shoreline essentially will follow the original 

 shoreline contour but at a nigher elevation. An effort will be made to 

 create as many small sheltered bay areas as possible. The stockpiled 

 topsoil will then be placed over the spoil, graded, and stabilized 

 against erosion. 



Once the topsoil is in place, the area initially will be seeded in 

 native grasses. Dec-duous trees and shrubs will be planted in strips, 

 shelterbelt fashion, at the highe"^ elevatic^s. The overall objective 

 is to restore a habitat similar to the riparian grasslands and thickets 

 lost through construction and impoundment. In order to maximize the 

 area's usefulness ard attractiveness to ''ocal wildlife and to enhance 

 habitat diversity in the conifer-dominated general Project Area, re- 

 commendations concerning suitable plant species, planting, and manage- 

 n;ent requirements will be solicited from appropriate state and federal 

 agencies such as MDNRC, USFWS, and USFS. Potentail candidate tree and 

 shrub species are black cottonwood, willows, alders, birches, elder- 

 berry, and wild rose. To enhance wate'fowl and furbearer habitat, semi- 

 aquatic plants, such as cattails and reeds could be established in the 

 small bays along the new undulating shoreline. 



After the initial plants have become established, natural secondary 

 successional processes will result in the introduction of additional 

 species. Sufficient riparian habitat exists both upstream and down- 

 steam to insure the transportation by wind, water, and animals of S':!eds 

 and oiher plant propagation material into the area. Depending on the 

 vegetation established and recommended habitat management techniques, 



93 



