Des Moines River Research Articles

Environmental Factors Associated With Fish Reproduction in Regulated Rivers

ABSTRACTHumans have extensively altered rivers to accommodate anthropogenic uses. Dams modify river flow and temperature regimes important for lotic fish reproduction. Yet, assessments of fish production in relation to environmental conditions in regulated rivers are lacking but are needed to guide experimental environmental flows. We evaluated the effects of water temperature and discharge on larval Catostomidae, Sciaenidae, and Clupeidae production to inform environmental flow management. We sampled ichthyoplankton from April through June on the Des Moines and Iowa rivers prior to (2014–2015) and after (2021–2022) an experimental environmental flow was incorporated on the Des Moines River. We used a hurdle model to assess the effects of water temperature, discharge, and discharge variation on larval presence (logistic regression) and density (linear regression). Larval Catostomidae were captured once water temperatures exceeded 15°C, Sciaenidae appeared when water temperature surpassed 18°C, while Clupeidae appeared when water temperature exceeded 20°C. The probability of larval Sciaenidae and Clupeidae presence increased with discharge variation while densities were both positively associated with discharge and discharge variation. The probability of Sciaenidae and Catostomidae larval presence increased with water temperature. Interactions between water temperature and discharge influenced Clupeidae presence and Catostomidae density. The probability of Clupeidae presence increased with discharge at warmer water temperatures. Catostomidae densities increased with discharge at cool water temperature (13°C) and decreased with discharge at warm (25°C) temperatures. Our results provide information about the effects of discharge, discharge variation, and water temperature driving larval fish production in anthropogenically altered rivers to guide environmental flow management.

Sedimentology of a delta formed by agricultural river discharge into a flood‐control reservoir, Iowa

AbstractRiver deltas are ecologically critical landscape components and are responsible as habitats for millions of people, wildlife, and plant communities. Deltas store vast quantities of eroded nutrient‐rich sediment and play a significant role in water quality management through nutrient cycling and storage. Many studies have been conducted in marine and tidal delta environments that characterize the sedimentology and geomorphic characteristics of these relatively young landscapes. However, little work has been completed in even younger inland reservoir deltas. This study characterized the sediments and geomorphology of the growing delta forming at the outlet of the Des Moines River into Red Rock Reservoir in south‐central Iowa and discussed the implications of the lower delta sediment and topographic characteristics in terms of sediment and nutrient storage, and the potential impact of the delta on other hydroecological factors. We found that the ca. 30‐year‐old lower delta is storing up to 60% of the contributing watershed's eroded sediment and total carbon, with total sediment depths of ca. 9 m across the 755‐ha area. Further, we identified two major geomorphic landscape positions within the lower delta that were categorized as distributary channels and delta plains. Sedimentological differences in these microscale landscape positions were identified. Sand content was greater at lowest distributary channel elevations and at the highest plain elevations whereas silt dominated the elevation range between these two extremes. The zone of silt accumulation corresponds to the range in elevation associated with normal lake level management. The silt‐dominated area is regularly inundated and covered with a variety of emergent vegetation and is the zone of critical importance for waterbird habitat and nutrient‐processing capacity.

Long-term nitrate-nitrogen reductions in a large flood control reservoir

Flood-control reservoirs are common in the U.S. and several are located in highly agricultural regions of the Midwest. In this study, a mass balance of annual and seasonal NO3-N concentration and load reductions was calculated for Lake Red Rock, a large flood-control reservoir located on the Des Moines River downstream of the City of Des Moines, Iowa. Utilizing rare long-term upstream and downstream NO3-N monitoring records extending back in time 42 years and combining this with estimates from tributary inputs, Lake Red Rock reservoir was found to remove an average of 7,379 Mg NO3-N per year, representing 12.4 % of the NO3-N inputs to the reservoir. Annual variations in NO3-N loss rate varied considerably (-2.9 % to 41.3 %) and were significantly related to annual reservoir water retention time. Combining study results with literature data, annual NO3-N reduction in Midwestern flood-control reservoirs was logarithmically related to average annual water retention time. Although flood-control reservoirs are designed primarily for flood protection, manipulating the reservoirs to achieve longer water retention times, particularly during periods of high NO3-N concentrations and loads, could be a strategy to alleviate impairments at downstream water suppliers and help state and federal agencies meet NO3-N reduction goals.

Assessing the Influence of a Bias Correction Method on Future Climate Scenarios Using SWAT as an Impact Model Indicator

In this study, we evaluate the implications of a bias correction method on a combination of Global/Regional Climate Models (GCM and RCM) for simulating precipitation and, subsequently, streamflow, surface runoff, and water yield in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). The study area is the Des Moines River Basin, U.S.A. The climate projections are two RCMs driven by two GCMs for historical simulations (1981–2005) and future projections (2030–2050). Bias correction improves historical precipitation for annual volumes, seasonality, spatial distribution, and mean error. Simulated monthly historical streamflow was compared across 26 monitoring stations with mostly satisfactory results for percent bias (Pbias). There were no changes in annual trends for future scenarios except for raw WRF models. Seasonal variability remained the same; however, most models predicted an increase in monthly precipitation from January to March and a reduction for June and July. Meanwhile, the bias-corrected models showed changes in prediction signals. In some cases, raw models projected an increase in surface runoff and water yield, but the bias-corrected models projected a reduction in these variables. This suggests the bias correction may be larger than the climate-change signal and indicates the procedure is not a small correction but a major factor.

Red Rock Hydroelectric Project – New hydro development at an existing flood control dam

The Red Rock Hydroelectric Project converted the existing Red Rock Dam near Pella, Iowa, from a non-powered dam into a multi-purpose dam. The existing flood control dam was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in the 1960s on the Des Moines River near Pella, Iowa. The hydroelectric project was developed by Western Minnesota Municipal Power Agency and generates up to 55 MW with an average annual energy output of 178 gigawatt-hours. The new intake, penstock and powerhouse are located immediately adjacent to the spillway. Construction required large excavations into the upstream and downstream sides of the existing embankment dam and two penetrations through the existing gravity dam monoliths. Extensive water and earth-retention systems, prescriptive construction staging, and a robust dam safety surveillance program were designed to maintain and monitor the integrity of the existing dam throughout construction and avoid impacts to active USACE flood control operations. Construction was completed in 2020. This paper provides an overview of the unique challenges involved with the design and construction of a new hydroelectric project at an existing and active flood control dam.

Suitability of an Upper Mississippi River Tributary for Invasive Carp Reproduction

AbstractInvasive carp are expanding throughout the upper Mississippi River basin and are of great concern due to their potential economic and ecological impacts. Identification of spawning locations provides critical information on recruitment sources to evaluate potential management strategies. Our objective was to create and validate a spawning habitat suitability model of the Des Moines River, Iowa, during low‐, average‐, and high‐water‐level conditions. Backwater availability, abundance of hardpoints (structures that create turbulence), river gradient and sinuosity, water temperature, and continuously free‐flowing river lengths were used as model parameters. The model was compared to back‐calculated spawning locations from invasive carp eggs collected in 2014–2015. Turbulent hardpoints, river sinuosity, and gradient were not significant predictors of invasive carp spawning locations, and backwater availability in the 25 river kilometers downstream of each reach was inversely correlated with invasive carp spawning locations. Invasive carp eggs were not caught in 2014 despite optimal spawning conditions, revealing that spawning may have high interannual variation. This study suggests that predicting invasive carp reproduction may require variables in addition to those currently proposed.

Red Rock Power

The addition of hydroelectric power to the existing Red Rock Dam on Iowa's Des Moines River presented engineers with the opportunity to use an untapped resource to generate clean and reliable power...

Invasive Carp Reproduction Phenology in Tributaries of the Upper Mississippi River

AbstractInvasive Bighead Carp Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Silver Carp H. molitrix, and Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella are expanding throughout the upper Mississippi River (UMR) basin. Spawning has occurred in the main‐stem UMR but could be limited to high‐discharge events when dam operations create a free‐flowing river. Alternatively, naturally free‐flowing tributaries could offer alternative habitat for successful reproduction. Our objectives were to examine temporal and spatial variation in adult gonad development, ichthyoplankton densities, and back‐calculated spawn dates of invasive carp collected in three UMR tributaries. We compared ichthyoplankton densities between the upstream and mouth reaches of tributaries and densities between the UMR and adjacent tributaries. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected every 10 d, and adult invasive carp were sampled monthly at nine sites throughout the Des Moines, Skunk, Iowa, Cedar, and Mississippi rivers during April–October 2014 and 2015. Peaks in adult gonadosomatic index, an increase in postspawn females, and ichthyoplankton collections suggested that peak spawning occurred during late May through June, when water temperatures were 18–30°C and channel velocities were at least 0.7 m/s. However, reproduction occurred as late as August in some tributaries. Ichthyoplankton densities were highest in the Des Moines River among tributaries, but tributary densities were similar to the UMR densities, suggesting that both tributaries and main‐stem sites provide suitable spawning locations. Invasive carp reproduction in UMR tributaries provides additional sources of potential recruitment for further population expansion upstream in the UMR and should be considered when devising plans for controlling populations along the leading edge of the invasion.

Beyond the trends: The need to understand multiannual dynamics in aquatic ecosystems

Beyond the trends: The need to understand multiannual dynamics in aquatic ecosystems

A Comparison of Grass Carp Population Characteristics Upstream and Downstream of Lock and Dam 19 of the Upper Mississippi River

Abstract Grass Carp Ctenopharyngodon idella have been intentionally stocked for aquatic vegetation control across the Midwestern United States for several decades. During the 1970s, escapement of Grass Carp into the Missouri River facilitated their naturalization into much of the Mississippi River basin, including the Upper Mississippi River. Lock and Dam 19 (LD19) in Keokuk, Iowa, is a high-head dam that represents a focal point for naturalized Grass Carp management where populations may differ between upstream and downstream pools as result of limited upstream migration, but potential differences between populations have yet to be evaluated to the best of our knowledge. The objective of this study was to compare the relative abundance, size structure, condition, growth, and recruitment variability of Grass Carp collected upstream and downstream of LD19. We sampled Grass Carp monthly (April–October) during 2014 and 2015 from four locations in the Des Moines River (downstream of LD19) and five locations throughout the Skunk, Iowa, and Cedar rivers (upstream of LD19) using boat electrofishing and trammel net sets. We captured 29 Grass Carp upstream of LD19 compared with 179 individuals captured downstream. Trammel nets only captured Grass Carp downstream of LD19; trammel net catch per unit effort upstream of LD19 was low and ranged from 0.0 to 8.0 fish/net lift (mean ± SE = 0.39 ± 0.13). Electrofishing catch per unit effort ranged from 0.0 to 22.7 fish/h (1.49 ± 0.30) and was higher downstream (2.42 ± 0.30) of LD19 than upstream (0.57 ± 0.07). Grass Carp downstream of LD19 tended to be smaller, younger, of lower body condition, had higher mortality rates, and were slower growing compared with those collected upstream and to populations documented in other systems. Understanding and monitoring adult Grass Carp population characteristics upstream and downstream of LD19 is necessary to determine how they may change in response to ongoing harvest efforts for invasive carps in these river reaches.

Quantifying the contribution of tile drainage to basin-scale water yield using analytical and numerical models

The Des Moines Lobe (DML) of north-central Iowa has been artificially drained by subsurface drains and surface ditches to provide some of the most productive agricultural land in the world. Herein we report on the use of end-member mixing analysis (EMMA) models and the numerical model Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to quantify the contribution of tile drainage to basin-scale water yields at various scales within the 2370 km2 Boone River watershed (BRW), a subbasin within the Des Moines River watershed. EMMA and SWAT methods suggested that tile drainage provided approximately 46 to 54% of annual discharge in the Boone River and during the March to June period, accounted for a majority of flow in the river. In the BRW subbasin of Lyons Creek, approximately 66% of the annual flow was sourced from tile drainage. Within the DML region, tile drainage contributes to basin-scale water yields at scales ranging from 40 to 16,000 km2, with downstream effects diminishing with increasing watershed size. Developing a better understanding of water sources contributing to river discharge is needed if mitigation and control strategies are going to be successfully targeted to reduce downstream nutrient export.

On seasonal and semi-annual approach for flood frequency analysis

As a supplementary method to the conventional flood frequency analysis based on annual peak flows, we propose an approach in this paper to infer the flood frequency distribution on quarterly and semi-annual time scale, which are then converted to annual time scale to obtain the floods corresponding to return periods in unit of year. Two criteria for test of data independence, namely, minimum 7 and 15-day interval between two consecutive peak flows, are tested. The proposed approach was applied to Des Moines River at Fort Dodge, Iowa, USA using its 62 years of observation daily flows. The results show that the estimated floods for given return periods from quarter-annual data series are in general higher than the corresponding estimated floods from semi-annual data series, which is further larger than estimated floods from annual peak flows. The floods estimated from semi-annual data series agree well with the results of previous US Geological Survey study.

Intra‐Annual Variability of Silver Carp Populations in the Des Moines River, USA

AbstractSince their introduction in the 1970s, Silver Carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix have spread throughout the Mississippi River basin. Management of any species relies on an accurate understanding of population characteristics and dynamics. However, Silver Carp seasonal sampling variation is unknown. Sampling during periods of peak catch rates would facilitate Silver Carp assessment and management, improving monitoring and removal techniques. The objective of this study was to evaluate adult Silver Carp seasonal sampling variation with boat electroshocking and trammel nets. Silver Carp were collected monthly (April–October) during 2014 and 2015 from four locations in the Des Moines River, Iowa. Trammel nets rarely captured Silver Carp (mean ± SE = 4.9 ± 1.6 fish/net; 60% of fish were captured in 6.3% of net sets) and therefore were not included in analyses. Electroshocking catch rates (CPUEs) exhibited a bimodal distribution, with peak CPUEs generally occurring in May, June, and September and lower catch rates observed during July and August. Catch rates were positively related to river discharge at upstream sites but not at downstream sites. Silver Carp size structure was similar among months and sites except at Cliffland, where fish were smaller during August and October compared to earlier in the year. Finally, Silver Carp condition peaked during April and May and decreased throughout the year except at Keokuk, where peaks were observed during both May and August. Although spatiotemporal variability was substantial, these results suggest that sampling of Silver Carp via electroshocking in May–June and September–October generally produces higher catch rates compared to July–August sampling and generates a more representative size structure. Using site‐specific knowledge, monitoring and surveillance programs could more effectively sample during these periods of high vulnerability and densities in order to manage the spread and impacts of Silver Carp at statewide and regionwide scales.Received December 7, 2016; accepted May 11, 2017Published online June 30, 2017

Long-term changes in nitrate conditions over the 20th century in two Midwestern Corn Belt streams

Summary Long-term changes in nitrate concentration and flux between the middle of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century were estimated for the Des Moines River and the Middle Illinois River, two Midwestern Corn Belt streams, using a novel weighted regression approach that is able to detect subtle changes in solute transport behavior over time. The results show that the largest changes in flow-normalized concentration and flux occurred between 1960 and 1980 in both streams, with smaller or negligible changes between 1980 and 2004. Contrasting patterns were observed between (1) nitrate export linked to non-point sources, explicitly runoff of synthetic fertilizer or other surface sources and (2) nitrate export presumably associated with point sources such as urban wastewater or confined livestock feeding facilities, with each of these modes of transport important under different domains of streamflow. Surface runoff was estimated to be consistently most important under high-flow conditions during the spring in both rivers. Nitrate export may also have been considerable in the Des Moines River even under some conditions during the winter when flows are generally lower, suggesting the influence of point sources during this time. Similar results were shown for the Middle Illinois River, which is subject to significant influence of wastewater from the Chicago area, where elevated nitrate concentrations were associated with at the lowest flows during the winter and fall. By modeling concentration directly, this study highlights the complex relationship between concentration and streamflow that has evolved in these two basins over the last 50 years. This approach provides insights about changing conditions that only become observable when stationarity in the relationship between concentration and streamflow is not assumed.

Assessment of the Effects of High Summer Water Temperatures on Shovelnose Sturgeon and Potential Implications of Climate Change

Rivers worldwide have experienced changes through habitat modifications and are likely further exacerbated with the onset of climate change. The coupling of these anthropogenic disturbances has reduced the ability of river ecosystems and associated biota to adjust. The aforementioned human-induced habitat perturbations coupled with high summer river temperatures have been associated with an increased frequency of fish kills. Recently, shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus have experienced numerous events of excessive summer mortality in rivers across the USA. During the summer of 2012, multiple fish kills occurred on the lower Des Moines River. During one of these events, we collected numerous dead or dying shovelnose sturgeon (N = 132) to explore factors causing mortality. Water temperatures were exceedingly high (29–35°C), while dissolved oxygen levels varied between 4 and 10 mg L−1. Based on population simulation modelling, only ~14% mortality would need to occur to reduce the reproductive potential below sustainable levels, which was likely exceeded. The results of our controlled experiment demonstrate that the high temperature in the Des Moines River was likely the mechanism initiating mortality. Future climate projections indicate that increases in temperature on the Des Moines River are possible; thus, the population may be at risk in the future. Through our microchemistry investigation, immigration from the Upper Mississippi River appears to be common and may be a source population to the Des Moines River. Despite immigration, the influence that these mortality events have on the Upper Mississippi River is unknown. Thus, proactive management efforts are needed to ensure sustainability of this population. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Nitrate loss in Saylorville Lake reservoir in Iowa

Few studies have quantified nitrate-nitrogen reductions in rivers flowing through large flood control reservoirs despite their potential role in helping to meet nitrate-N load reduction targets. In this study, we evaluated a 26-year record of nitrate-N monitoring in Saylorville Lake reservoir that impounds the Des Moines River in central Iowa to estimate the annual mass of nitrate-N removed and evaluate controls on inter-annual patterns of nitrate-N removal rates. Results from mass balance calculations indicate a nitrate mass loss of 4.9% over the 26 year period from 1986 through 2011. The annual percent nitrate mass removed is related to hydraulic loading rate with low flow years having longer retention times removing a significantly greater percentage of nitrate than is removed during high flow years with low retention times. Average annual residence times varied from 3.5 to 74 days with a 26 year average of 9.7 days. Nitrate removal results for Saylorville Lake agree well with published work for several other reservoirs which together encompass a broad range of nitrate removal rates. Combining data from Saylorville Lake with other published studies, a relationship between nitrate-N removal rate and hydraulic loading rate was developed resulting in a predictive equation with a model R2 = 0.92.

Improved streambank countermeasures: the Des Moines River (USA) case study

In the Midwestern USA, bank erosion is a common hazard due to the high erodibility of the bank soils. In this paper, an improved methodology aimed at identifying the optimal countermeasures to control bank erosion was developed and applied in two sites of the Des Moines River (USA). In situ flow measurements, bed bathymetry and soil properties were collected for providing boundary conditions and parameters of the two-dimensional, depth-averaged hydrodynamic finite element surface water modeling system (FESWMS) model. The model was used to compare the hydraulic performances of four streambank countermeasures: riprap lining (referred to as S1); a series of barbs (S2); alternating barbs and spurs (S3); and the combination of barbs with lining (S4). A key feature of FESWMS was its ability to simulate the wetting/drying conditions of mesh elements, which allowed the simulations of unsubmerged or partially submerged structures for different hydraulic conditions. This research showed that the combination of alternating barbs and spurs (S3) was the only design which provided protection during overbank flows at a competitive cost compared to the other designs analysed. The uniqueness of this methodology is found in the coupling of field measurements and theoretical approaches for depth-averaged velocity profiles to calibrate and validate a hydrodynamic model; and in the proposed design to protect streambanks from severe erosion.

A Reaction-Based River/Stream Water Quality Model: Reaction Network Decomposition and Model Application

This paper describes details of an automatic matrix decomposition approach for a reaction-based stream water quality model. The method yields a set of equilibrium equations, a set of kinetic-variable transport equations involving kinetic reactions only, and a set of component transport equations involving no reactions. Partial decomposition of the system of water quality constituent transport equations is performed via Gauss-Jordan column reduction of the reaction network by pivoting on equilibrium reactions to decouple equilibrium and kinetic reactions. This approach minimizes the number of partial differential advective-dispersive transport equations and enables robust numerical integration. Complete matrix decomposition by further pivoting on linearly independent kinetic reactions allows some rate equations to be formulated individually and explicitly enforces conservation of component species when component transport equations are solved. The methodology is demonstrated for a case study involving eutrophication reactions in the Des Moines River in Iowa, USA and for two hypothetical examples to illustrate the ability of the model to simulate sediment and chemical transport with both mobile and immobile water phases and with complex reaction networks involving both kinetic and equilibrium reactions.

My Imaginary Cock

Laura Madeline Wiseman My ImaginaryCock I want to be a folded pocket square ready for stage sweat. I want a routine of lip-sync & hips Elvis would envy. I want hair on my chest & thighs. I want spirit gum sideburns. 1 want spotlight. I want to be a tie unknotted & a starched collar open. I want the hush & catcall of a crowd. I want sunglasses Feminist Studies38, no. 1 (Spring 2012). . © 2012 by Laura Madeline Wiseman. 212 Laura Madeline Wiseman 213 at night. I want to be a nipple loop under a damp tee. I want to buckle over trousers. I want my imaginary cock. 214 Laura Madeline Wiseman My ImaginaryCock My imaginary cock calls me down for dinner. All day work on Dickenson bound me to language. My centerless body cut neatly from the field of my brain. The meal is arranged. Spinach artichoke dip for starters and a crock of squash as the main course. Near midnight my cock will butcher candy bars for hot chocolate to be topped by marshmallows. My imaginary cock pokes a wad of taupe heart on the platter. Creamed spinach swoops in drips from my tortilla triangles. Delicious, I say and suck on the spoon. I nurse a fleshy gob of gelatinous soup. It slides by my tongue, along my molars, beside the bumps of my gums. My imaginary cock taps a fork against an empty bowl and toys with table crumbs. I want a second serving, maybe even a third, but can't. I'm full and emit the groan of the sated, privileged, and ready for bed. Do you know the artichoke is like the vulva? my cock says, the meal now a testament to such thoughts. I shake a no and wait for my cock to go on. Like the vulva, bits are excised all over the world, depending on taste. The thick leaf of the labia majora, the thin, tenderfronds of the minora plucked off.Ln some parts the sensitive heart is scooped out whole. My cock drives a butter knife into the example on the plate. Can you imagine such a palate.'' my cock shudders. We live in that place. Laura Madeline Wiseman 215 My ImaginaryCock What stinks: Earring posts. Belly buttons. Feet, armpits, and crotches after sweat cools. Used floss, bad breath, and tiny white lies. Burnt popcorn, sour milk, and spoiled eggs. A plastic spoon melted in the dishwasher. Hang-up telephone calls during dinner. Tap water left in a sports bottle two days. The innards of the trashcan and compost bin. Unpaid bills. Credit card applications. Cat litter, damp dog fur, flea insecticide. House mildew, moth balls, the basement. Air released in a hiss mid-way through a fight. Marijuana, skin after a fifth of whiskey. Bar smoke, street urine, a decayed grackle. City bus exhaust. Not being given a choice. The Des Moines River in the morning. Hog manure, the factory on interstate 80. An empty house. My imaginary cock gone. 216 Laura Madeline Wiseman My ImaginaryCock My imaginary cock joins Humans Anonymous. In a back row I slouch in sunglasses, a trench coat with the collar turned up. The cocks sit in a circle. Bad coffee percolates by baskets of fake sugar. Blue smoke obscures wrinkles and sags. The room wafts the odor of the unattended. I stiffen when my imaginary cock speaks. I haven't had a human in thirty-seven days. Last night I parked by her house for an hour. Imaginary cocks adjust themselves. Some weep. Others rub sobriety coins. My cock shivers, It's because of all ofyou that I left alone. Several cocks applaud as my cock reddens. My fingers quake. I scuttle out of the room and slump in the car until the meeting ends. When my cock leaves with another cock, I drive home with the headlights off and get into bed with all my clothes on. I can't sleep. I pee once every hour. I try to masturbate. I do Kegel exercises. At 3:33, keys shake the lock. A door opens. Laura Madeline Wiseman 217 My Imaginary Cock My imaginary cock plays Santa on Christmas morning. You really shouldn't have, my cock says for...

Preliminary Examination of Archaeological Remains from Fort Johnson and Cantonment Davis

In September 1814, Brevet Major Zachary Taylor established Fort Johnson on the eastern bluffs of the Mississippi to assert American control over the mouth of the Des Moines River and points northward. Completed in a matter of weeks, the fort and its works were razed in late October of the same year when the troops ran out of provisions and retreated downriver to the St. Louis area. The following October, a temporary winter camp called Cantonment Davis was established near the fort ruins as a staging ground for building Fort Edwards, a subsequent military trading post. This article presents highlights from the archaeological search for the fort/cantonment location and recent excavations undertaken at the site, with a special focus on the armaments-related assemblage.