Eagle Surveys............................................ March-April 2015
Pool 9 River Clean Up....................................April 2015
MRAD App Deadline.........................................July 2015
MRAD................................................................July, 2015
Fish Days Booth...........................................August 2015
Kids Fishing Day..........................................August 2015
FOP9 Annual Meeting........................... September 26, 2015
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Supports Pool 11 Spill Response on Mississippi River
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) staff from around the Midwest teamed up to provide on-site assistance and expertise as agencies responded to the February 4, 2015, train derailment and subsequent ethanol spill on the Mississippi River in Iowa.
Refuge management and staff from the McGregor District of the Service’s Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) were on site during the response, supporting efforts of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency and local emergency responders. The spill, which released an estimated 55,000 gallons of ethanol from derailed train cars, occurred within several hundred feet of the McGregor District of the Refuge, raising concerns about impacts to fish, freshwater mussels, waterfowl and migratory birds and refuge lands.
Staff from the McGregor District and the Service’s Rock Island Ecological Service Office are working with responders to guide environmental monitoring efforts on the river as impacts from the spill are assessed. Service employees are providing expert technical assistance, participating in surveys of the spill area and have generated maps, collected ice samples, and searched open water areas for dead fish. The Service also provided an airboat to gain access to the river.
In addition, fishery biologists and contaminants experts from the Service’s Midwest Region are working with responders to identify freshwater mussels found in mud collected at the spill site. Two species of federally endangered mussels, the Higgin’s eye pearlymussel and sheepnose mussel, are known to be present near the spill area.
As of February 12, 2015, testing indicated the vast majority of ethanol and gasoline from the spill is no longer in Pool 11. The long term impacts of ethanol on aquatic resources are not well understood, so the Service will continue to participate with partners in monitoring the river to ensure federal trust resources are adequately protected. Monitoring of contaminant levels will continue at the derailment site. The Service expects to conduct and support additional surveys for dead fish and turtles later this spring as ice breaks up.
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“The cooperation and collaboration among the agencies responding to this incident have been outstanding,” said Richard King, manager of the McGregor District. “By working together, we can carry out the monitoring and follow-up activities needed to ensure that this region of the Upper Mississippi River remains an important natural area for people and for wildlife.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has trust responsibility for national wildlife refuge lands, migratory birds, federally endangered species and interjurisdictional fish on the Upper Mississippi River. The 261-mile Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which includes Navigation Pool 11, is one of the most important corridors of fish and wildlife habitat in the Central United States. Up to 40 percent of the continent’s waterfowl use the Mississippi Flyway during migration.
The Refuge was designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy due to its national and international importance for migratory birds, and is part of a 300,000-acre complex of Mississippi River floodplain designated as a Wetland of International Importance.
The Refuge is one of the most heavily visited in the National Wildlife Refuge System by the public (3.7 million annual visits), providing year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, swimming, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education. The Refuge supports 306 species of birds, 119 species of fish, 51 species of mammals and 42 species of mussels. Up to 50 percent of the world’s canvasback ducks stop on the Refuge during fall migration, and up to 20 percent of the eastern United States population of tundra swans stop during fall migration.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws/gov.
Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsmidwest, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsmidwest, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest.
Refuge management and staff from the McGregor District of the Service’s Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) were on site during the response, supporting efforts of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Environmental Protection Agency and local emergency responders. The spill, which released an estimated 55,000 gallons of ethanol from derailed train cars, occurred within several hundred feet of the McGregor District of the Refuge, raising concerns about impacts to fish, freshwater mussels, waterfowl and migratory birds and refuge lands.
Staff from the McGregor District and the Service’s Rock Island Ecological Service Office are working with responders to guide environmental monitoring efforts on the river as impacts from the spill are assessed. Service employees are providing expert technical assistance, participating in surveys of the spill area and have generated maps, collected ice samples, and searched open water areas for dead fish. The Service also provided an airboat to gain access to the river.
In addition, fishery biologists and contaminants experts from the Service’s Midwest Region are working with responders to identify freshwater mussels found in mud collected at the spill site. Two species of federally endangered mussels, the Higgin’s eye pearlymussel and sheepnose mussel, are known to be present near the spill area.
As of February 12, 2015, testing indicated the vast majority of ethanol and gasoline from the spill is no longer in Pool 11. The long term impacts of ethanol on aquatic resources are not well understood, so the Service will continue to participate with partners in monitoring the river to ensure federal trust resources are adequately protected. Monitoring of contaminant levels will continue at the derailment site. The Service expects to conduct and support additional surveys for dead fish and turtles later this spring as ice breaks up.
MORE-
“The cooperation and collaboration among the agencies responding to this incident have been outstanding,” said Richard King, manager of the McGregor District. “By working together, we can carry out the monitoring and follow-up activities needed to ensure that this region of the Upper Mississippi River remains an important natural area for people and for wildlife.”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has trust responsibility for national wildlife refuge lands, migratory birds, federally endangered species and interjurisdictional fish on the Upper Mississippi River. The 261-mile Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which includes Navigation Pool 11, is one of the most important corridors of fish and wildlife habitat in the Central United States. Up to 40 percent of the continent’s waterfowl use the Mississippi Flyway during migration.
The Refuge was designated a Globally Important Bird Area by the American Bird Conservancy due to its national and international importance for migratory birds, and is part of a 300,000-acre complex of Mississippi River floodplain designated as a Wetland of International Importance.
The Refuge is one of the most heavily visited in the National Wildlife Refuge System by the public (3.7 million annual visits), providing year-round outdoor recreational opportunities, including boating, camping, swimming, hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education. The Refuge supports 306 species of birds, 119 species of fish, 51 species of mammals and 42 species of mussels. Up to 50 percent of the world’s canvasback ducks stop on the Refuge during fall migration, and up to 20 percent of the eastern United States population of tundra swans stop during fall migration.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws/gov.
Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsmidwest, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsmidwest, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest.
Friends Repair Clam Cages at Genoa National Fish Hatchery
Seventeen members of Friends of Pool 9 joined other
volunteers at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery on two separate occasions
(January 21and January 29) to repair mussel cages. Everyone worked in the garage removing
damaged wire mesh from the old 3' X 2' X 2' rectangular box-like cages. While some were involved in drilling out
rivets and removing old wire from the aluminum metal framework, others cut and
riveted new mesh in place. Volunteers
completed the restoration of 51 cages at the first session and another 33 at
the second. FOP9 members applaud Mit
Wilde, the 93 year old volunteer who worked both sessions. "His stamina and enthusiasm is
remarkable, he keeps us younger 70+ year olds from complaining," said Don
Thran (age 77). Genoa Hatchery staff
rewarded the workers with a tasty grilled burger lunch each day, including
salads and desert, as well as coffee and donut breaks. Mark Schneden commented, "It's a great
way to spend a day, working together to help the Hatchery. I just wish more FOP9 members would offer to
help as well."
Nathan Eckert, mussel biologist at Genoa National Fish Hatchery informed the group that the project to restore the Higgins' eye pearlymussel began in 2000, and the Genoa facility is one of only a few in the United States to grow and restore this mussel. He explained the process of inoculating 5 inch bass with parasitic baby clams (attached to the gills of the host fish) and then placing them in these growing cages on the river bottom until the clams are larger and drop from the gills of the fish. The fish are then released into the water unharmed and the clams collected for redistribution to selected sites.
The Higgins' eye is on the Federally Endangered Species list of freshwater mussels, but through this project the population is improving. Rebuilding the cages annually is very labor intensive and volunteers saved the clam restoration project hundreds of hours of work. Nathan and the Genoa National Fish Hatchery staff were very complimentary and appreciative of the efforts of all the volunteers. Plans are being made for additional volunteering at Genoa on this and other projects in 2015. If you would like to volunteer for FOP9 contact John Verdon at 563-538-4836 or email John at pjvriverhouse@centurylink.net.
Nathan Eckert, mussel biologist at Genoa National Fish Hatchery informed the group that the project to restore the Higgins' eye pearlymussel began in 2000, and the Genoa facility is one of only a few in the United States to grow and restore this mussel. He explained the process of inoculating 5 inch bass with parasitic baby clams (attached to the gills of the host fish) and then placing them in these growing cages on the river bottom until the clams are larger and drop from the gills of the fish. The fish are then released into the water unharmed and the clams collected for redistribution to selected sites.
The Higgins' eye is on the Federally Endangered Species list of freshwater mussels, but through this project the population is improving. Rebuilding the cages annually is very labor intensive and volunteers saved the clam restoration project hundreds of hours of work. Nathan and the Genoa National Fish Hatchery staff were very complimentary and appreciative of the efforts of all the volunteers. Plans are being made for additional volunteering at Genoa on this and other projects in 2015. If you would like to volunteer for FOP9 contact John Verdon at 563-538-4836 or email John at pjvriverhouse@centurylink.net.
Friends of Pool 9 volunteers and others from
the area pose in front of the 51 completely restored mussel cages at Genoa
National Fish Hatchery. FOP9 members in
the photo include: Bob Henkel, Dick Roeder, Bob Seeley, Mark Schneden, Don
Thran, Mit Wilde, and John Verdon.
Mike A'Hearn, Mark Schneden, and Dwight
Lawson work on a smaller cage during the second work day at Genoa.
Friends of Pool 9 volunteers Tom Magnusson and Bob Seeley work with Allen Brickman from Sparta to repair a clam cage.
A complimentary grilled burger lunch at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery with German potato salad was enjoyed and greatly appreciated by the volunteers.
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A group photo of the volunteers from the
second work day at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery gather in the work garage
at days end. Friends of Pool 9 members
included Mike A'Hearn, Dwight Lawson, Lloyd Lorenz, Tom Magnusson, Mark
Schneden, Bob Seeley, Don Thran, John Verdon, and Mit Wilde.
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Tribute to Ann Blankenship
After thirty years of service Ann Blankenship has retired from the US Fish & Wildlife Service, effective December 19, 2014. Ann's Federal service began with the National Forest Service in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She later transferred to Wyoming’s Big Horn Mountains, remaining with the Forest Service. In 2001, Ann’s career brought her to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where she was stationed at the La Crosse District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge. In 2009, she transferred to the McGregor District and Pools 9-10-11.
Ann was in charge of Visitor Services for the District and worked Friends groups in Pools 9 and 10. She loved working with elementary school students on the river. This included the Mississippi River Adventure Days on Pools 9 & 10 as well as extending a Refuge-based educational program for students in the Eastern Allamakee County School District. Students investigated wildlife with cameras, insect nets, journals, and their backpacks. Her enthusiasm for leading children will be deeply missed in the Pool 9 area. Another of her projects was the planting of swamp white oak trees on Refuge ground just north of New Albin.
Photo (Ann Blankenship 2010 IMG_9678.jpeg) caption should read: Ann Blankenship at a recent McGregor District volunteer appreciation dinner in McGregor, Iowa .
Ann has plans to sell her property near McGregor, Iowa and return to her family home area near Wichita, Kansas in the spring of 2015. The Friends of Pool 9 would like to thank Ann for her many years of service to the McGregor District, FOP9 and to the youth programs she nurtured at Lansing and New Albin.
Ann was in charge of Visitor Services for the District and worked Friends groups in Pools 9 and 10. She loved working with elementary school students on the river. This included the Mississippi River Adventure Days on Pools 9 & 10 as well as extending a Refuge-based educational program for students in the Eastern Allamakee County School District. Students investigated wildlife with cameras, insect nets, journals, and their backpacks. Her enthusiasm for leading children will be deeply missed in the Pool 9 area. Another of her projects was the planting of swamp white oak trees on Refuge ground just north of New Albin.
Photo (Ann Blankenship 2010 IMG_9678.jpeg) caption should read: Ann Blankenship at a recent McGregor District volunteer appreciation dinner in McGregor, Iowa .
Ann has plans to sell her property near McGregor, Iowa and return to her family home area near Wichita, Kansas in the spring of 2015. The Friends of Pool 9 would like to thank Ann for her many years of service to the McGregor District, FOP9 and to the youth programs she nurtured at Lansing and New Albin.
ITC Makes Substantial Donation to Friends of Pool 9
At the November 3rd meeting of the FOP9 Directors, ITC Permit Policy Specialist Dan Hagan and Community Affairs Regional Manager Mike Ivester presented a $5,000 check to FOP9. ITC Midwest (International Transmission Company) will help reforest the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Pool 9 with the donation. Several reforestation projects are presently underway and others are being planned for use of the dollars.
A reforestation plan is underway at the Refuge ground north of New Albin. Eastern Allamakee Community Schools 5th graders from New Albin Elementary are involved in the planting project. In Spring, 2014 the group planted 300 oak saplings and on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 another group of 5th graders and FOP9 volunteers planted another 300 oak trees.
Plans are also underway to enhance the beach area immediately upstream of Lansing by grading the sand to extend the beach, and removing some of the older common trees such as mulberry, cottonwood, and maple and replacing them with oaks as well. The Capoli Island restoration area south of Lansing will also be reforested with trees in the very near future as plans are developed by US Fish & Wildlife Service and FOP9.
ITC personnel present
Friends of Pool 9 with a $5,000 check at the November 3, 2014 Directors
meeting. L. to R. Mike Ivester, Bob
Seeley, Bruce ReVoir, Dan Hagan, Jerry Boardman, Joe Mazanec.
MRAD to Dubuque River Adventure Day Trip
The Friends of Pool 9 Board of Directors had no choice but to cancel the annual Mississippi River Adventure Day (MRAD) when water levels reached almost 9 feet above normal due to flooding, creating unsafe conditions on the river. In its place, they offered a free trip to all the children and chaperones to the Mississippi River Museum in Dubuque, Iowa. Early July 15th, forty three kids and adults left Lansing on a luxury charter bus and spent the day exploring the fantastic exhibits and the grand aquariums at the museum site. All costs (charter bus, entrance fees, and lunch) were paid by FOP9
Marissa Klum, age 7, called her day “awesome”. Sonny Boardman, age 8, exclaimed that “I never ever thought I would be that close to a real live alligator”. Everyone loved the playful “otters”. Several adults, who had not been to the museum also enjoyed the day and expressed their thoughts about the education the center provides about our area and the mighty Mississippi River. Board Members Jerry Boardman, Darrin Thran, Bruce ReVoir, and Larry Quamme, were joined by former Board Members Ric Zarwell & his wife Betty and Don Thran, on the day trip. Friends of Pool 9 will continue to offer hands-on river experiences for children in an attempt to foster good stewardship for the river resource, and create excitement for being on the river. Perhaps the river will be more normal in summer 2015, as we plan for the eighth Mississippi River Adventure Day for kids on the river.
Marissa Klum, age 7, called her day “awesome”. Sonny Boardman, age 8, exclaimed that “I never ever thought I would be that close to a real live alligator”. Everyone loved the playful “otters”. Several adults, who had not been to the museum also enjoyed the day and expressed their thoughts about the education the center provides about our area and the mighty Mississippi River. Board Members Jerry Boardman, Darrin Thran, Bruce ReVoir, and Larry Quamme, were joined by former Board Members Ric Zarwell & his wife Betty and Don Thran, on the day trip. Friends of Pool 9 will continue to offer hands-on river experiences for children in an attempt to foster good stewardship for the river resource, and create excitement for being on the river. Perhaps the river will be more normal in summer 2015, as we plan for the eighth Mississippi River Adventure Day for kids on the river.
Forty-three children and adult chaperones arrive at the Dubuque River History Museum for a day of exploration and learning, sponsored by Friends of Pool 9.
Friends of Pool 9 Annual River Clean up for 2014
Friends Gather to Clean the Mississippi
While most are spending a sunny spring Saturday morning in April raking their lawns or doing outside work of some type, well over a hundred area volunteers did something else. They gathered in small towns all around Pool 9 as a small army, a band of brothers to do something so grand and impressive it almost boggles the mind. While bass boats and walleye fishermen in contests at Lansing and Stoddard darted hurriedly around them this unusual group loaded boats with debris from the river; half sunken barrels, tires large and small, floating plastics, and Styrofoam pieces of all sizes and shapes.
This was the day of the annual Friends of Pool 9 Mississippi River clean up day. It was jointly sponsored by FOP9, and US Fish & Wildlife, and is part of the Great Mississippi River Cleanup coordinated by Living Lands & Waters. The clean up committee had designated 28 sites/activities in Pool 9 to focus attention on during the day. The list included removing bent metal dock pipes from Shore Slough with the use of a wench on the US Fish & Wildlife boat, walking both sides of the three mile-long Highway 82 dike removing trash, collecting burnt metal or plastic scraps through screening the Friends of Pool 9 fire rings on area beaches, and sending out boats to all areas of the 90 square mile pool. Boats searched the backwaters and channel from below the Genoa dam to the open water above the Lynxville dam, an area 31 miles long and three miles wide. Others cleaned boat landings, walked the Lansing Marina dike, as well as the Dairyland Power parking area below Genoa. The group also assisted the removal of a boathouse that was on its' last days and will no longer threaten sinking to the bottom of the river. Unusual items included a dated and discarded fish crib, a pill bottle dated 1981, and a television set that shouldn't have been there.
One of the goals of Friends of Pool 9 is to create a higher level of awareness and appreciation for the Mississippi River. It's also to teach our children and the younger generation how to become better stewards of the resource. One of the FOP9 Board members (Darrin Thran) made the following comment, "As I watched people today I saw one common thing and that was a true desire to want to make a difference by cleaning up and giving back to the river and the area! The people with me were picking through ash and burnt wood and sand for even the smallest things like bottle caps, wire, you name it. It's really neat to see that many people give up their Saturday morning on a nice spring day to go out and make a difference. We need to challenge people to make a difference like today, everyday they are on the river by picking up not only after themselves but others !"
Thanks to the 115 FOP9 volunteers, thanks to the kitchen workers that put together 120 sack lunches, thanks McGregor District Fish & Wildlife Service for the boat with a wench, thanks Vernon County and Waste Management of Prairie du Chien, thanks IA Department of Natural Resources for the truck, thanks US Army Corps of Engineers and Black Hawk Park for the dumpster site and lunch area, thanks to Living Lands and Waters for the $500 donation and the cool water bottles, shirts, gloves, and bags, thanks to Jim Kerndt for the use of his tractor and Joe Mazanec for the truck, and all the FOP9 volunteers that supplied boats to make the day a success.
President Bruce ReVoir summarized the days' success with the following comment, "I'm constantly impressed by the turn out of area citizens for the river clean up day. Improving the quality of the river with the river clean up day is a important part of the goals of FOP9. I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped last Saturday giving of their time for such a good cause."
The group has other volunteer activities throughout the year including assisting with New Albin Elementary planting trees, USACOE planting trees on river islands, Eagle Survey teams, Mississippi River Adventure Day for kids, Eagle Program in Ferryville and Lansing Fish Days, and assisting at Genoa National Fish Hatchery. Check the website friendsofpool9.org for more information.
Volunteers aboard the FWS wench boat deliver an old dock with 20 foot poles attached during the FOP9 clean up. Jim Gobeli and Joe Mazanec wait on shore.
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Dave Jacobsen and Glen Reed remove the metal sheeting from an old boat house owned by Scott Beaton.
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Larry Quamme and Gary Rutter bring a load of trash collected from the lower end of the pool to the Ferryville landing.re to edit.
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Todd Lensing, and Tom Chernouski removed some unusual debris from the river bottom near Copper Creek.
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Mark Clements and young work crew bring a boat load of barrels to the Black Hawk Park USACOE dumpster during the April 26 Friends of Pool 9 clean up.
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Click on picture to enlarge.
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