he U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Iowa Department of Natural Resources announced plans this week to start work on what will be known as the Council Bend Chute. The $3 million project will be put out for bids this month.

The plan calls for the elimination of 20 acres of trees between Playland Park to just south of the city's water works along the river. A side channel or chute will be created in this area to help benefit endangered species and other habitat.

The chute will compliment the Missouri River Pedestrian Bridge which will be under construction soon linking Nebraska and Iowa. Green space and public access will be provided on the Iowa side of the bridge. Future plans may include the development of nature trails and other recreational opportunities.

The site was chosen mainly because the river used to flow through this area before it was channelized. Every effort will be made to restore the area as closely as possible to the original habitat.

The uprooted trees will be deposited on a six-acre staging site and will be offered to the highest bidder. Money from the sale of trees will be deposited in the State Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund to be used on other fish and wildlife habitat improvements.

The plan also calls for the removal of 400,000 cubic yards of dirt which will be stored and used for other projects.

The completed chute will be around 100 to 150 wide and 5 to 15 feet deep for a mile. The work is expected to take about a year to complete with the majority done by next spring.

The project is a joint effort by the Corps of Engineers, the city of Council Bluffs, Iowa DNR Fish and Wildlife and the Iowa Department of Transportation.