Federal shut-down closes USFWS Visitor Center, Effigy Mounds; waterfowl season, other river use not affected

by Kelli Boylen
freelance writer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s McGregor District Office and Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge are closed due to the federal government lapse in appropriations, but what does that mean for local folks who use the river?
Most of the river bottoms and islands from Lake Pepin to Rock Island, IL are owned or managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Fish and Wildlife Service, and this could lead to some confusion. Those seeking information about what is open or not open can be easily confused.
According to part of the Contingency Plan prepared by the Fish and Wildlife Service and available online, Refuge lands, visitor centers and other facilities are “closed to public access.”  The plan states all Refuge “hunting and fishing opportunities are canceled until the government re-opens.” But in reality this does not heavily affect local users.
The Upper Mississippi Wildlife Refuge may be “closed” but activities such as fishing and waterfowl hunting are not affected, according to Mike Griffin, Mississippi River Wildlife Biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
In a nutshell, if an area has signs stating that it should not be used by the public, don’t use it. If there are no signs saying that a landing or area is closed, it’s business as usual. “That is the way we are telling it,” said Griffin.
According to Griffin, all waterfowl seasons this year are operating the “same as always.” The only difference would be if a person was trying to gain access to the river at a boat landing that is solely operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Corp of Engineers.
There are several local boat landings that are operated by the Iowa DNR in conjunction with federal agencies, but they remain open. In the case of Sny Magill the road to the landing crosses National Park Service land, but that does not affect the use of the landing.
One boat landing near New Albin was mistakenly marked as closed due to the shut-down, but it has since been re-opened. Griffin says all boat landings in Allamakee County should be open for public use.
While the lapse in appropriations remains in effect, public access to Fish and Wildlife Service properties - such as the visitor’s center located between Marquette and McGregor - are prohibited.
“Basically, when it comes to waterfowl hunting, it is business as usual. So get your stamp, grab your gear, follow the regulations and have a safe and enjoyable hunt. State wardens will be out on patrol as usual,” said Randy Stark, Wisconsin DNR chief warden. “The only difference is that [some] access points to federal properties are closed.”
During the shut-down, refuge law enforcement personnel continue to ensure the protection of public safety, resources and facilities. DNR wardens from both Wisconsin and Iowa will also be out to ensure all waterfowl and fishing regulations are enforced.
Iowa’s state parks, including those like Honey Creek and Elk Rock that are on federal land, are open. “It can be confusing about what is open and what isn’t, especially for parks on federal reservoirs,” said Jim Lawson, State Parks Bureau supervisor for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “But Iowa’s state parks are open for business as usual.”
All Iowa and Wisconsin state parks, trails, forests, wildlife and other properties remain open for public recreation and enjoyment. For a listing of Iowa state parks, go to www.iowadnr.gov/parks.
Thousands of people usually enjoy the fall colors at Effigy Mounds, but the National Monument is also completely closed for as long as the federal shut-down lasts. This time of the year it is common to see school buses and many out-of-area visitors in the parking lot of the visitor center. This past weekend’s HawkWatch event at Effigy Mounds was also cancelled. That two-day event alone usually attracts more than 1,500 visitors.
Although no single business is likely to be feeling the brunt of the lack of visitors to Effigy Mounds, it is certainly likely that some businesses that cater to leaf-lookers will be impacted.
There are, however, many other beautiful places in the northeast Iowa area to observe fall colors that are open, such as Pikes Peak near McGregor, Yellow River State Forest near Harpers Ferry, the Waukon City Park and Mt. Hosmer Park in Lansing.