Guttenberg Fisheries Management

The Guttenberg Fisheries Management team is located at the Guttenberg Aquarium and Hatchery south of Mississippi River, Lock and Dam 10 located on River Park Drive. The team manages the fisheries on Mississippi River Pools 9, 10 and 11 from the Minnesota border to Dubuque.

Guttenberg management team activities include:

• Manage the Guttenberg Northern Pike Hatchery each spring.
• Manage the Guttenberg Visitor Center and Aquariums in the summer.
• Survey and assess fish, turtle and mussel populations.
• Analyze physical, chemical and biological aspects of area river watersheds.
• Install fish habitat and other structures.
• Perform fish kill investigations.
• Enhance community fishing opportunities.
• Conduct fishing clinics and outdoor classrooms.

The Guttenberg Fish Hatchery, located in downtown Guttenberg, has produced northern pike fry for the Iowa DNR since 1974. Before that, the hatchery was owned and operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Each spring, after ice out, staff at Guttenberg and other DNR stations in eastern Iowa net northern pike from local backwater lakes. Hatchery operations typically start around March 15 and all fry are shipped out of the Guttenberg hatchery by April 15.

Station Activities

• Conduct HREP (habitat rehabilitation and enhancement projects) monitoring for pre and post project fish habitat data.
• Work closely with the Iowa DNR ltrm and research teams, Wisconsin DNR, U.S.F.W.S and Army Corps of engineers to plan and design habitat for the most species in a cost effective manner.
• Monitor and report invasive species concerns and inform boaters of invasive species presence and laws.
• Attend partner coordination meetings on HREP to ensure project is constructed to design with the most benefits to fish and wildlife.
• Conduct permit reviews for Mississippi River sovereign lands to avoid and minimize impacts to sovereign lands and mussel species.
• Collect walleye and/or northern pike broodstock for fish culture to be stocked statewide.
• Conduct aquatic education programs and fishing clinics
• Operate the Guttenberg visitor aquariums