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Coldwater River Backwater Restoration - Heavily Degraded Reference Site
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 The first picture shows typical conditions in old bendway. The third picture shows aquatic plants in old bend.

The southern bend is also downstream from Arkabutla Lake, and is also about 2 km long and 40 m wide. River stages are controlled by the operation of the dam, and backwater levels rise and fall with Coldwater River stage when the river stage exceeds the controlling elevation in the downstream connecting channel. However, during the warmer months the river is 1 to 3 m lower than the backwater, and it becomes quite shallow or dries up. This backwater is almost completely choked with aquatic plants during warmer months. Probing with a metal rod  revealed 2-3 m of fine sediment deposition in the backwater.