A sedimentation study of the Mississippi River, between River Miles 51 and 47, was conducted to study the mechanics of Marquette Chute. A hydraulic micro model was used to access a variety of structural design alternatives to develop biological diversity in the side channel. The study found that favorable diversity could be developed by the construction of two notches in the upper closure structure of Marquette Chute, and by the construction of two dikes below the lower closure structure of Marquette Chute.