Public may comment on Determination for Issuance of a Right of Way Permit for Black Hawk Bridge through October 6

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service knows that access to America’s public lands increases the quality of life. National wildlife refuges across the country offer quality opportunities to connect with special places in a variety of ways. Before any activity can be allowed on a national wildlife refuge, that use must first be evaluated through a Compatibility Determination.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has developed a draft Compatibility Determination for the issuance of a Right-of-Way (ROW) permit to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (Wisconsin DOT) is proposing to improve the existing bridge crossing of Iowa Highway 9 (IA 9) and Wisconsin State Highway 82 (WI 82) over the Mississippi River at Lansing, Iowa.

The proposed improvements include construction of a new bridge spanning the main channel of the Mississippi River and construction of new or improvement of existing roadways, minor bridges, and intersections connecting the river bridge to IA 9 and IA 26 on the Iowa bank and WI 82 on the Wisconsin bank of the Mississippi River. While these proposed actions will take place throughout an extended project area, a portion of these improvements will impact refuge lands, with a right-of-way permit being issued for a total of 0.75 acre of permanent impacts to floodplain forest within the refuge.

The current bridge is antiquated, and the right-of-way easement permit is needed for structure construction, right-of-way realignment, ditches, side slope grading and long-term maintenance. This project will provide safe access to refuge units by visitors and staff as well as interstate travel between Wisconsin and Iowa. Additionally, the bridge provides primary access for two U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-owned boat ramps (Winneshiek and Big Slough) that are located on the causeway.

The Iowa Department of Transportation’s Environmental Assessment for the project originally proposed a 5.9-acre impact to the Refuge. During project design, this impact was further reduced to 0.75 acre, significantly avoiding, and minimizing impacts to the refuge. The current bridge is a public safety issue and other locations that were considered would have greater impacts to the refuge and/or cultural and environmental resources.

The Compatibility Determination can be viewed at https://www.fws.gov/story/2023-09/compatibility-determination-black-hawk....

The public is encouraged to provide their comments on the matter by Friday, October 6 of this year. Those comments and/or question can be sent by mail to:
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge; McGregor District; Attn: Kendra Pednault; 470 Cliff Haven Road; Prairie du Chien, WI 53821; or by email to: Kendra_Pednault@fws.gov. She can also be reached by telephone at 608-326-0515 x 115.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is the most visited refuge in the United States. The refuge extends 261 miles along the Upper Mississippi River from Wabasha, MN to Rock Island, IL. In addition to being the most visited refuge in the country, the “Upper Miss” Refuge has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 300 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.