The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Wabasha, Minnesota, have reached a major milestone in managing sand dredged from the Mississippi River.
The city and Wabasha Port Authority have begun removing sand from temporary storage islands near Wabasha, following nearly a decade of planning and cooperation.
Under a first-of-its-kind agreement for inland waters in the United States, the Corps will pay the city a fee to manage nearly 250,000 cubic yards of sand removed from the river each year.
Officials say the partnership will help the city find productive uses for the sand while allowing the Corps to focus on maintaining a safe and reliable navigation channel for shipping agricultural products throughout the Upper Midwest.
Wabasha Port Authority President John Friedmeyer called the milestone a great day for the community, crediting local leaders, federal partners and private businesses for making the project possible.
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