A formal dedication ceremony was held Thursday for new Mississippi River islands. Politicians and officials from numerous state and federal agencies packed on a boat to tour the area south of La Crosse. The islands should benefit the fishing industry.
A boat filled with people who have worked on, represented and loved the Mississippi River toured the 22 new islands in Pool 8, across from Stoddard, Wis.
Bob Johnson was aboard. He says he first fished in the area in the 1940s. “Years ago when I used to fish down here, I fished more of the main channel, but a lot of the land I used to catch fish on is gone.”
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The land is gone because after the lock and dam system was put in place, many of the old islands eroded away. The new islands will help rebuild the habitat.
Jeff Janvrin is a Mississippi River Habitat Specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. He has been working on these islands projects for more than 20 years. Javrin says, “This area down here has turned into a very, very good location for summer fishing. The fish are utilizing all this new structure that’s down here, all the new habitat that’s come in the summer. Time will tell if we get our fisheries response for the winter.”
Officials say the new islands will benefit local economies that rely on fishing and hunting tourism.
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