Mississippi River - Pool 9

Major species: bluegill, channel catfish, freshwater drum, largemouth bass, northern pike, 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 9 of the Upper Mississippi River extends 31.3 miles from Lock and Dam 9 in Lynxville, Wisconsin to Lock and Dam 8 near Genoa, Wisconsin. The Iowa border is just above New Albin, Iowa about six miles downstream of Lock and Dam 8. Pool 9 has 35,169 acres of aquatic habitat. The upper and middle portions of the pool has many islands, channels and backwaters while the lower pool is a broad expanse of open water. Pool 9 encompasses most of the natural river floodplain and is bounded by limestone bluffs. The Upper Iowa River enters the Mississippi River in Pool 9 south of New Albin. The Iowa DNR’s Pool Slough Wildlife Management Area is located in Pool 9 east of New Albin. Pool 9 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).