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Phone: 573-234-2132 |
The Service has a long tradition of providing opportunities for public enjoyment of aquatic resources through recreational fishing. As the population in the United States continues to grow, the demands for quality water-related experiences increase. The goal of the Service's fishery management efforts is to provide quality opportunities for responsible recreational fishing and other related enjoyment of aquatic resources on Service lands, on Tribal and military lands, and on other waters where the Service has a role. Columbia FRO works with several units of our National Wildlife Refuge System, National Fish Hatchery System, Knoxville V.A. Hospital and the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant to enhance fishing opportunities for the public, to provide hatchery fish and technical assistance in support of recreational fishing. We provide technical assistance to other federal facilities as requested.
 Jim Milligan and Steve Van Riper weighing catfish while conducting fish management survey on DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge. |
Columbia FRO staff have been sampling the fish community at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge annually since the 1970s. The refuge is located along the Iowa-Nebraska border. DeSoto Lake is an 800 acre cut-off Missouri River oxbow created when the COE channelized the river. Largemouth bass and crappie are favored sport fish in this lake. (1999 DeSoto Report) (2001 DeSoto Report) |
Some refuge areas are sampled less routinely because the refuge receives fishery assistance from state fish and game agencies or because fishery and aquatic resources are limited. Swan Lake NWR and the Keithsburg District of the Port Louisa NWR were both surveyed in 1996 to provide some specific resource management information. Technical assistance and recommendations are provided for other Refuge projects as requested. (1996 SLNWR Report) (1996 Keithsburg Report)
Iowa Army Ammunition Plant is a Department of Defense facility in Middletown, Iowa. Mathes Lake and Stump Lake both provide public fishing opportunities. The US Fish and Wildlife Service has worked cooperatively with IAAP for over 25 years providing a sound resource management program for the IAAP fishery. Our role includes the collection and analysis of data and fisheries management technical assistance. CFRO provides recommendations on fish regulations, habitat management, and fish stocking, to continue to maintain, conserve, and develop fishery resources at IAAP. (2001 IAAP Report)
