ABOUT US
Mission & Goals:
To conserve the cultural and natural resources within Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, and to foster wise public use and enjoyment of the Refuge and the Upper Mississippi River.
Friends of Pool 9 works endlessly toward our mission:
-
Informing the public about the benefits of Pool 9 and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
-
Providing opportunities for volunteers to help conserve the natural habitats found within Pool 9, and the wildlife and fish populations that depend upon those habitats.
-
Supporting the Refuge’s public use and educational programs.
-
Securing funding for projects and activities within Pool 9 of the Refuge.
-
Informing elected officials about Refuge issues.
At Friends of Pool 9, our mission is to conserve the cultural and natural resources within Pool 9 and to foster wise use and enjoyment of the area for outdoor enthusiasts—from anglers to hunters, boaters to paddlers and birdwatchers to photographers.
We are a nonprofit community-based organization, with a growing network of over 830 members, volunteers and donors. Our organization fully supports the "Wildlife Comes First" management philosophy of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and we encourage all who visit Pool 9 to adopt our “Leave No Trace” philosophy.
Pool 9 is part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, encompassing over 35,000 acres of aquatic habitat. The area is home to several fish species, including bass, bluegill, catfish, crappie, northern pike, sauger and walleye, as well as songbirds, great blue herons, tundra swans, ducks, geese, bald eagles and river otters, of course.
Flowing through Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the upper and middle portions of Pool 9 feature a series of islands, channels and backwaters, leading to a vast expanse of open water in the lower portion. With its scenic border of towering limestone bluffs, Pool 9 comprises most of the river’s natural floodplain.
