Although navigation was the initial purpose of the 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 spans from Minneapolis, Minnesota (river mile 854.0), to 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 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. Shoreline and real estate management programs provide recreation and other public access to project lands and waters.
Status
Funding in fiscal year 2026 supports historical operation and maintenance activities on the Mississippi River. This includes water level management coordination, land/habitat management, endangered species mitigation, boundary resurveying and monumentation, real estate management including encroachment resolution and shoreline management permitting, operation of developed recreation areas, and cultural resource protection. Shoreline stabilization along 2,000 feet of culturally sensitive shorelines at Blackhawk Park is anticipated to be complete in spring 2026. The environmental stewardship program continues to actively support Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program initiatives within the Upper Mississippi River region as feasible.
Authority
The Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Channel Navigation Project is authorized by the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1930 and Public Laws 78-534, 69-560, 92-500, 71-520, 85-624 and 89-72.
Funding
Fiscal year 2025 $2,242,350
Fiscal year 2026 allocation $2,236,000
Fiscal year 2027 full budget request $8,188,000