Upper Mississippi River

The Upper Mississippi River is one of America’s most iconic and vital waterways—yet it faces mounting threats that endanger its health, its ecosystems, and the communities that depend on it. Pollution from agricultural runoff, habitat loss, invasive species, and the growing impacts of climate change are all taking a toll on this critical natural resource. Once-abundant populations of fish and wildlife are declining, wetlands are shrinking, and the river’s natural flow is increasingly disrupted. These changes not only compromise the river’s ecological integrity but also threaten drinking water supplies, outdoor recreation, and local economies throughout the region.

Conserving the Upper Mississippi River is not just about preserving a landscape—it’s about protecting a life-support system that sustains millions of people and countless species. Restoring habitat, improving water quality, and strengthening natural floodplain functions are essential steps toward building resilience in the face of environmental change. The League has been working to protect the upper Mississippi for over a century, but we must continue to act with urgency to ensure this national treasure continues to thrive for future generations, serving as both a sanctuary for wildlife and a cornerstone of our natural heritage.

Establishing the wildlife refuge for the Upper Mississippi River created the template for modern conservation advocacy

2024 marks the 100-year anniversary for the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which was a huge victory for the endangered wetlands along the river—and for the Izaak Walton League, the young conservation group that successfully pushed to establish the refuge.

By successfully advocating for establishment of the refuge, the League also created the template for modern environmental advocacy, combining the first mass membership of an environmental organization, a professional staff, lobbying in Washington and in four states and passionate pleas for action published in the League’s magazine, Outdoor America.

The 100,000 members provided unprecedented grassroots power that helped achieve buy-in and approval from Congress, the White House and from policymakers in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. The protection afforded by the refuge prevented private developers from converting the wetlands to agriculture and other uses. Today, the refuge still serves as an oasis for fish and wildlife and remains a critical part of the Mississippi flyway for migrating birds.

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is an enduring example of how we can and must take action to save the nation’s waterways and ensure a future with clean water. We will need bold steps and new generations of stewardship to address a range of problems—pollution, sedimentation and invasive species to name a few. 

Use these resources on this page to learn more about the history of the Refuge and the challenges it faces today.

News about the Refuge

• Episode 4 of This American Land profiles Steven Marking and his portrayal of Will Dilg, including a discussion about the League’s victory in protecting the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in 1924.
• Dilg Inducted into the National Rivers Hall of Fame on Centennial of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Dubuque Today, June 11, 2024
• For a century, this upper Mississippi River refuge has been an ecological oasis. What comes next?, Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal, June 9, 2024
• Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge celebrates 100th Anniversary, KWQC TV, June 7, 2024
• Farmers challenge ‘Swampbuster’ law for locking up their land, Pamela King, E&E News, Apr. 17, 2024
• Upper Mississippi River Refuge celebrates diversity, history as 100th anniversary approaches, Elizabeth Kelsey, Telegraph Herald, Mar. 15, 2024
• Upper Mississippi refuge celebrates 100 years, WVIK, NPR Quad Cities, by Molly Sweeney, Mar. 14, 2024
• The “Upper Miss” Refuge is Celebrating 100 Years!, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service news release, Mar. 12, 2024
• Upper Mississippi national wildlife refuge, which saved the floodplain from being turned into farmland, turns 100, Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Feb. 27, 2024
• Izaak Walton League press release, Upper Mississippi Centennial, Feb. 2, 2024
• Friends of Pool 9 honor 100th anniversary of Upper Mississippi Refuge, The Standard, Feb. 2024
• From citizen scientists to water advocates, Zachary Matson, Adirondack Explorer, Jan. 26, 2024