Mississippi River - Pool 11

Major species: bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, sauger, smallmouth bass, walleye, white crappie

Most Iowa’s streams, rivers and lakes offer safe and high-quality fish that pose little or no threat to human health if eaten. Over 4.5 million meals of Iowa fish were eaten in 2018. Some limitations of eating fish may apply for young children and pregnant women. Fish are a good source of nutrients that promote healthy child development and is also part of a healthy diet.

Pregnant women, women wanting to become pregnant, breastfeeding mothers, and children under 12 years of age should monitor their fish consumption to ensure they are selecting fish that are low in mercury.

Pool 11 of the Upper Mississippi River extends 32.1 miles from Lock and Dam 11 in Dubuque to Lock and Dam 10 in Guttenberg. Pool 11 contains 19,875 acres of aquatic habitat. The upper and middle portions of the pool contain many islands, side channels, and backwaters while the lower pool is a broad expanse of open water. Pool 11 encompasses the majority of the natural river floodplain and is bounded by limestone bluffs. Major tributaries that enter the Mississippi River in Pool 11 are the Turkey and Little Maquoketa Rivers in Iowa and the Grant and Platte Rivers in Wisconsin. Pool 11 is also part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.