Noll wants Pool 19 declared wildlife refuge

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BY COLIN MAGNESUN
RadioKeokuk News Director

MONTROSE - At a special meeting of the Lee County Conservation Board Tuesday afternoon, the board approved of a resolution supporting exploration of a possible conservation improvement project to enhance the Mississippi River Pool 19.

The board requested local wildlife advocate Jim Noll give a small presentation regarding his goal of turning Pool 19 into a wildlife refuge to improve the basin above the pool, both economically and ecologically.

Noll told the board the 155 miles of the Des Moines River has been designated as a whitewater theme park. According to Noll, no brick and mortar was used in the project as it consisted of tenderizing the bottom of the river by moving some large boulders around. He said as a result of the work the area has become a haven for recreation.

Noll then moved to comparing that project to what is going on at Pool 19 downriver from Fort Madison where he says the 1913 introduction of Lock and Dam 19 has damaged the river both ecologically and recreationally.

“The U.S. Coast Guard has designated this area of the Mississippi as a ‘Danger High Wind Area’. That’s how dangerous the river is at Pool 19. One of the reasons that is a flat mud plane is that when they dammed up the river this area filled up and cut off 34 species of fish, plants, and fauna from returning from south of the dam.”

Noll said the waters that filled in the pool removed some important land structures.

“They also flooded out the majority of the islands and what islands remained were removed by wind. With no islands for protection, the prevailing winds out the west run parallel with the river for a stretch and its both dangerous and destructive. The siltation and clarity of the water suffer which results in the loss of wildlife.”

Noll said he has hopes of getting both the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife to designate the area a federal wildlife refuge like they have in places above several lock and dams on the border of northeastern Iowa. According to Noll, the Corps has been reconstructing islands where they had previously been flooded out and as a result fishing, hunting, and recreation have boomed.

“Why can’t we do that here? That’s what we’re looking at doing. These people (Lee County Conservation) have bought about 2,000 acres of either waterbound or submerged acreage. If we can bring back those island chains, some of which are roughly a mile long, we could bring a whole new economy to the area”

The next step, he said, is how to fund the project.

“This is an economic project. Obviously, the federal government will have to be involved through the Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Since 1913, they haven’t spent a dime on Pool 19 because it has been privately owned until recently.”

As far as how to get started, Noll said it’s up to the conservation district and local citizens to get the ball rolling.

“U.S. Fish and Wildlife policy states they cannot accept any new ground for their refuge or sister systems. We need to come together and speak to our representatives. Governor Reynolds already has stated, through her economic adviser, that she will write a letter supporting this project. We’re not asking the government to spend any new money; just to allocate some of what they’re already spending up north down to us.”

LCCD Director Nathan Unsworth explained the resolution that was unanimously passed by the board.

“This resolution is just indicating that the Conservation Department supports this project and its benefits, which include enhancing wildlife habitat, improving water quality, and expanding recreational opportunities as well as the economic impact it could have on our region," he said. " It also names Jim Noll as the liaison for the project as he has already made so many contacts.”

Conservation Board President Liza Alton was quick to state that at this point the board is simply exploring possibilities and no real estate or funds will be changing hands as a result of the resolution.

Noll also presented the following video to the board to highlight some of the successes being seen in Wisconsin. Click here for the full video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rs_2av40tA&feature=youtu.be

Army Corp of Engineers, Jim Noll, Mississippi River, Pen City Current, Pool 19, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, wildlife refuge

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