Mississippi River - Pool 12

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

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 12 of the Upper Mississippi River extends 26.3 miles from Lock and Dam 12 in Bellevue to Lock and Dam 11 in Dubuque. Pool 12 has 12,349 acres of aquatic habitat. Pool 12 encompasses most of the natural river floodplain and is bounded by limestone bluffs for much of its length. Pool 12 has islands, side channels, and backwaters throughout most of its length. Unlike many pools, the lower reach of Pool 12 is not an open expanse of water. Pool 12 is also part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Navigation maps are available from this US Army Corps of Engineers website (link takes you offsite).