There is no public access or facilities at the Lock and Dam. There are public
facilities scattered throughout the Pool.Located within the scenic Upper
Mississippi River Valley between Winona, MN and Trempealeau, WI. Project lands
are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the
Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish
Refuge. The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the
backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft
boats. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River
Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging
from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main
channel. In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National
Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many
State and local wildlife and recreation areas. Designated an American Heritage
River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including
sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded
bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

There is no public access or facilities at the Lock and Dam.  There are public facilities scattered throughout the Pool.Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Winona, MN and Trempealeau, WI.   Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main channel.  In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many State and local wildlife and recreation areas.  Designated an American Heritage River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Bird's eye view of the park

Mississippi River - Pool 5A

Bordered by steep wooded bluffs that rise 100 to 600 feet above the river
valley, the Mississippi River corridor and refuge offer scenic beauty and
productive fish and wildlife habitat unmatched in the heart of America.
Established in 1924 to be a refuge for fish, wildlife and plants and a
breeding place for migratory birds, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife
and Fish Refuge now covers more than 240,000 acres and extends roughly 261
miles of the Mississippi River across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Illinois and Iowa.

More than 290 species of birds migrate throughout the refuge every year. About
40% of the waterfowl in the nation use the Mississippi River as a travel
corridor in the fall migration and the refuge is particularly known to host
large flocks of tundra swans and large rafts of canvasback ducks between mid-
October and the winter freeze-up. In addition, Upper Mississippi River
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge hosts more than 300 pairs of bald eagles, in
part due to having one of the largest blocks of floodplain forest habitat in
the lower 48 states. The refuge is designated as a Wetland of International
Importance by the Ramsar Convention and a Globally Important Bird Area.

Just as the refuge provides a great place for wildlife, it also offers
phenomenal opportunities for public recreation. More than 3.7 million visits
take place each year as people come to hunt, fish, watch wildlife, take
pictures, attend public programs, walk, boat, swim and much more.

The Mississippi River is bisected by a series of 29 locks and dams managed by
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which allow for the maintenance of a nine-
foot-deep channel for commercial navigation. The lock and dams create
inundated bodies of water on the river known as pools. Each pool is named for
the lock and dam at its southern end. Due to its length, Upper Mississippi
River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is managed by four districts and a
headquarters office located in Winona, Minnesota. Each management district
oversees specific pools on the river:

  * Winona District, Pools 4 – 6: Wabasha, Minnesota to La Crosse, Wisconsin
  * La Crosse District, Pools 7 – 8: La Crosse, Wisconsin to Reno, Minnesota
  * McGregor District, Pools 9 – 11: Reno, Minnesota to Dubuque, Iowa
  * Savanna District, Pools 12 – 14: Dubuque, Iowa to Cordova, Illinois

Bordered by steep wooded bluffs that rise 100 to 600 feet above the river valley, the Mississippi River corridor and refuge offer scenic beauty and productive fish and wildlife habitat unmatched in the heart of America. Established in 1924 to be a refuge for fish, wildlife and plants and a breeding place for migratory birds, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge now covers more than 240,000 acres and extends roughly 261 miles of the Mississippi River across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.More than 290 species of birds migrate throughout the refuge every year. About 40% of the waterfowl in the nation use the Mississippi River as a travel corridor in the fall migration and the refuge is particularly known to host large flocks of tundra swans and large rafts of canvasback ducks between mid-October and the winter freeze-up. In addition, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge hosts more than 300 pairs of bald eagles, in part due to having one of the largest blocks of floodplain forest habitat in the lower 48 states. The refuge is designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention and a Globally Important Bird Area.Just as the refuge provides a great place for wildlife, it also offers phenomenal opportunities for public recreation. More than 3.7 million visits take place each year as people come to hunt, fish, watch wildlife, take pictures, attend public programs, walk, boat, swim and much more.The Mississippi River is bisected by a series of 29 locks and dams managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which allow for the maintenance of a nine-foot-deep channel for commercial navigation. The lock and dams create inundated bodies of water on the river known as pools. Each pool is named for the lock and dam at its southern end. Due to its length, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is managed by four districts and a headquarters office located in Winona, Minnesota. Each management district oversees specific pools on the river:<ul><li>Winona District, Pools 4 – 6: Wabasha, Minnesota to La Crosse, Wisconsin</li><li>La Crosse District, Pools 7 – 8: La Crosse, Wisconsin to Reno, Minnesota</li><li>McGregor District, Pools 9 – 11: Reno, Minnesota to Dubuque, Iowa</li><li>Savanna District, Pools 12 – 14: Dubuque, Iowa to Cordova, Illinois</li></ul>

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order in
1936, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for
migratory birds and other wildlife. The original refuge consisted of a 706.9
acre upland portion with open areas of former hay, pasture and croplands. An
office and maintenance shop complex was constructed in 1936, along with
temporary facilities for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, which was located
on refuge lands until the advent of World War II.

For more than 40 years, the refuge remained small, despite several attempts to
purchase more than 5,000 acres of the surrounding Delta Fish and Fur Farm,
Inc. In 1975, Dairyland Power Cooperative acquired the entire Delta Fish and
Fur Farm. Dairyland wanted to construct a rail loop for a coal off-loading
facility near their power generating plant at Alma, Wisconsin. The land they
would need for constructing the loop was part of the Upper Mississippi River
National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. As part of a land exchange, Dairyland
divested about 120 acres of the Delta property and sold an additional 4,778
acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. This addition, plus other
recent acquisitions, has brought Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to its
present size of 6,808 acres.

Today, the oak savannas of the midwest are considered by some to be the
world’s most threatened communities. A savanna is generally defined as a plant
community where trees are present but are sparse. The open nature of the oak
savanna results in the establishment of numerous kinds of prairie plants, both
grasses and forbs. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge has remnants of
prairie-oak savanna habitats and management objectives support restoration
efforts to maintain and establish additional oak savanna landscapes.

Marsh and aquatic vegetation occupies almost half of the refuge. Wetlands
provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide
habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are also
important landscape features because they hold and slowly release flood water
and snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of
impurities, recycle nutrients and provide recreation and wildlife viewing
opportunities for millions of people.

Bottomland hardwood forests cover about 16% of the refuge. Bottomland forests
that are located along rivers are generally linear in shape. These linear
corridors serve as pathways wildlife can use to move from one habitat patch to
another. The dense vegetation of these forests provides cover to hide from
predators and an escape from the sun during hot temperatures. Restoration of
the forest habitat can make these areas more attractive to species like the
red-shouldered hawk and cerulean warbler. Bottomland hardwood forests are
rich, diverse ecosystems that benefit the environment, people and wildlife.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge was established by Executive Order in 1936, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The original refuge consisted of a 706.9 acre upland portion with open areas of former hay, pasture and croplands. An office and maintenance shop complex was constructed in 1936, along with temporary facilities for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp, which was located on refuge lands until the advent of World War II.For more than 40 years, the refuge remained small, despite several attempts to purchase more than 5,000 acres of the surrounding Delta Fish and Fur Farm, Inc. In 1975, Dairyland Power Cooperative acquired the entire Delta Fish and Fur Farm. Dairyland wanted to construct a rail loop for a coal off-loading facility near their power generating plant at Alma, Wisconsin. The land they would need for constructing the loop was part of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. As part of a land exchange, Dairyland divested about 120 acres of the Delta property and sold an additional 4,778 acres to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. This addition, plus other recent acquisitions, has brought Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge to its present size of 6,808 acres.Today, the oak savannas of the midwest are considered by some to be the world’s most threatened communities. A savanna is generally defined as a plant community where trees are present but are sparse. The open nature of the oak savanna results in the establishment of numerous kinds of prairie plants, both grasses and forbs. Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge has remnants of prairie-oak savanna habitats and management objectives support restoration efforts to maintain and establish additional oak savanna landscapes.Marsh and aquatic vegetation occupies almost half of the refuge. Wetlands provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits. They provide habitat for fish, wildlife and a variety of plants. Wetlands are also important landscape features because they hold and slowly release flood water and snow melt, recharge groundwater, act as filters to cleanse water of impurities, recycle nutrients and provide recreation and wildlife viewing opportunities for millions of people.Bottomland hardwood forests cover about 16% of the refuge. Bottomland forests that are located along rivers are generally linear in shape. These linear corridors serve as pathways wildlife can use to move from one habitat patch to another. The dense vegetation of these forests provides cover to hide from predators and an escape from the sun during hot temperatures. Restoration of the forest habitat can make these areas more attractive to species like the red-shouldered hawk and cerulean warbler. Bottomland hardwood forests are rich, diverse ecosystems that benefit the environment, people and wildlife.

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Minnesota
City, MN and Winona, MN. Project lands are located within the Corps of
Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper
Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Main channel provides
deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness
area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats. There is an observation
platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up
close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River
Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging
from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main
channel. In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National
Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many
State and local wildlife and recreation areas. Designated an American Heritage
River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including
sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded
bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Minnesota City, MN and Winona, MN.   Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats.  There is an observation platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main channel.  In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many State and local wildlife and recreation areas.  Designated an American Heritage River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Mississippi River - Pool 5

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau,
WI and Dresbach, MN. Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers
Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper
Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The Main channel provides
deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness
area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats. There is an observation
platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up
close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between
Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River
Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging
from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main
channel. In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National
Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many
State and local wildlife and recreation areas. Designated an American Heritage
River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including
sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded
bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Located within the scenic Upper Mississippi River Valley between Trempealeau, WI and Dresbach, MN.   Project lands are located within the Corps of Engineers Nine Foot Navigation Project and the Fish and Wildlife Service Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  The Main channel provides deep draft boating opportunities while the backwaters provide a wilderness area atmosphere for the smaller shallow draft boats.  There is an observation platform for visitors to watch lock operations and see towboats and barges up close. Authorized in 1930 to provide a 9-foot navigation channel between Minneapolis - St. Paul, MN and St. Louis, MO, the Upper Mississippi River Project offers extensive opportunities for water-based recreation, ranging from backwater hunting and fishing to long-distance cruising in the main channel.  In the St. Paul District, the project flows through three National Wildlife Refuges, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, many State and local wildlife and recreation areas.  Designated an American Heritage River, it offers visitors many recreational opportunities, including sightseeing along the river, visiting quaint river towns, viewing the wooded bluffs along the river, and watching bald eagles soaring.

Mississippi River - Pool 5A

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Nearby Parks

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge

Mississippi River - Pool 5

Mississippi River - Pool 6