Purpose
Although navigation was the initial purpose of Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project, Congress has since authorized the development of recreational facilities, protection of forest resources, and required the consideration of fish and wildlife conservation.
Location
The project begins at Minneapolis, Minnesota (river mile 854.0) and ends just below Guttenberg, Iowa (river mile 614.0).
Description
The Mississippi River recreation and environmental stewardship functions are headquartered in La Crescent, Minnesota. The organization includes Blackhawk Park, a recreation area located 30 miles south of La Crescent, with overnight camping, day-use areas and boat launching facilities. Operation and maintenance of three additional boat access locations at Bad Axe, Millstone and Jay’s Lake landings are also administered by this organization.
A progressive forestry/wildlife program is actively managed under an existing memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for approximately 25,000 acres held in federal ownership in the project area. Much of this area makes up the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
Status
Funding in fiscal year 2022 supports historical Operation and Maintenance activities on the Mississippi River. This includes water level management coordination, land/habitat management, endangered species mitigation, boundary re-surveys and monumentation, real estate management including encroachment resolution and shoreline management permits, operation of developed recreation areas, and cultural resource protection. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act provided safety supplies to protect staff and customers during pandemic, along with installation of an automated fee machine to provide contactless collection of day use recreation fees.
Authority
The Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project is authorized by the River and Harbor Act of 1930 and PL 78‒534, 69‒560, 92‒500, 71‒520, 85‒624 and 89‒72.
Funding
FY 2021:
Allocation $2,616,700
FY 2022:
Allocation $2,624,490
CARES Act $32,075