Mississippi River - Pool 15

Fish Species

Major species: channel catfish, freshwater drum, sauger, walleye, white bass

Minor species: bluegill, crappie, flathead catfish, largemouth bass

Eating Iowa Caught Fish

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.

Mississippi River - Pool 15

Pool 15 of the Upper Mississippi River extends 10.4 miles from Lock and Dam 15 in Rock Island, IL to Lock and Dam 14 in Le Claire, Iowa. Pool 15 contains 3,627 acres of aquatic habitat. Located in the heart of the Quad Cities, industrial and urban development dominates the landscape of Pool 15. Pool 15 sits atop the former Rock Island rapids that were blasted and flooded to facilitate navigation and as such contains mostly main and side channel habitats with rocky substrates. 

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