Friends of Pool 9 group shares “President’s View” of Year 2020
Pool 9 was a popular destination during 2020 ... Vessels large and small were anchored along a new beach shoreline in Pool 9 of the Mississippi River below Lansing throughout this past summer. The beach is located across from the Driftless Area Visitor and Education Center and Village Creek Boat Landing. Photo courtesy of Bob Modersohn, Driftless Mode.
Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from “President’s View”, a column in the December 2020 issue of Friends of Pool 9 newsletter, The Otter’s Tale.
Twenty-twenty has been a year like none other. In my 79 years of living I’ve never seen anything like it. The despair seems endless, from unrest in our American political system to chaos in our streets. From hurricanes along the Gulf coast to widespread fires in the west. And close to home, 100-mph winds across Iowa and high river levels depositing sediments at a record pace in our Mississippi River backwaters.
Also, of course, there’s an uncontrolled virus spreading across the United States linked to deaths of Americans in the hundreds of thousands. How will it end? And just as important, when will it end?
The year 2020 has seen the Friends of Pool 9 attempt many things, but complete few as the year’s efforts are reviewed. On a positive note, hundreds of boaters took to Mississippi River’s Pool 9 over the summer at various times. It seemed to be the most popular place on the planet.
Folks at S&S Rentals commented that this was a very good year for houseboat, pontoon and fishing boat rentals. And the parking lot at Village Creek boat landing was filled to capacity every weekend.
Folks just wanted to get away from it all and they came to the river in huge numbers, to enjoy nature and be with their families in the safe and protected space of Pool 9.
- John Verdon
President
Friends of Pool 9
