mississippi river - iowa dnr
TRANSCRIPT
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Littleton Dam
Troy Mills
Dam
Anam
osa Boat D
am
Pinicon Ridge Park D
am
Wakpicada
Twin Ponds
Stone City
Hay A
ccess
Olin A
ccess
Sweet M
arsh
Alcock Park
Allens G
rove
Sherman Park
Oxford M
ills
Wapsie A
ccess
New
port Mills
Cutshall A
rea
Rigdon A
ccess
Brew
er Access
Massillon A
rea
Matsell B
ridge
Bruggem
an Park
Siggelkov Park
Snyders Access
Syracuse Access
Sand Creek A
rea
Quasqueton Park
Pine Creek A
rea
Frogville Access
McC
ausland
Walnut G
rove Park
Otterville B
ridge
Smoke Tow
n Access
Buena Vista A
ccess
Pinicon Ridge Park
Bathing B
each Park
Wapsi B
luff Access
Wapsi W
ildlife Area
Bruce C
hildsA
ccess
Wapsi Junction A
rea
Jungletown R
iver Access
WapsipiniconState Park
Seven Bridges W
ildlife Area
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Wapsi B
end
Mickey Fox
Wildlife A
rea
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utshall Bridge
River B
irch Bottom
s
Wapsi R
iver Access
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Quasqueton D
am
Troy Mills C
o. Access
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reekW
ildlife Area
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Anam
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oat Ram
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!nD
ouble Dam
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2 mi.
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Troy Mills W
apsipinicon Access
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oat Ram
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arina
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Access
Kingfisher
Cam
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Wapsipinicon River
Wapsipinicon River
Tripoli
Independence
Quasqueton
Anam
osaOlin
Oxford Junction
Wapsipinicon R
iver
Central C
ity
New
H
ampton
Sumner
Waverly
Waterloo
Cedar R
apids
Mount Vernon
Lowden
Clinton
De W
itt
Bettendorf
Mississippi River
Mississippi River
Monticello
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edar Rock State Park !l
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oies Bend A
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apsi River Environm
ental Education C
enter!|
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Legend
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Hard-surface boat ram
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Carry dow
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Cam
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Rapids or rock dam
Dam
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rinking water near river
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estroom
5-mile m
arkers, from m
outh
Watercraft cam
psite
Federal or state highway
City or tow
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Paved &
unpaved roads
Public lands
!lFishing access
|U
nmaintained access
Below Independence, the W
apsi flows through a combina-tion of timbered valleys and wooded bluffs with occasional limestone rock outcroppings. One of the most scenic one-day excursions lies be-tween Independence and Quasqueton, especially in fall when the oaks are chang-ing colors. Another popular section to paddle lies between Central City and Stone City, but Ana-mosa to the Newport Mills Access offers as much if not more in the way of natural beauty. Here, the W
apsi passes through some of the most rugged little cliffs and limestone formations on the entire river. Cedar Rock State Park offers tours of a house built by Frank Lloyd W
right in 1950. The boathouse can be seen from the river. Call in advance for tour information: 319-934-3572.
Smallmouth bass, northern pike, and walleye are common below the dams, and in the rocky areas of this stretch. Channel catfish enjoy the areas near log jams and fallen trees.
From Anamosa to the Mississippi, the Wapsi is a free flowing river with no dams,
allowing fish from the Mississippi unimpeded access to this 95-mile stretch. Lunker flathead catfish weighing as much as 40 pounds or more may be caught here. The W
apsi here averages 2 to 4 feet deep with many deep holes for lunkers to hide. The abundant number of sandy beaches offers numerous places for camping, fish-ing, and swimming.
Northern PikeW
alleyeSmallmouth Bass
Largemouth BassFlathead Catfish
There are eight low-head dams along the Wapsipinicon River, indicated
with the dam icon: n. Paddlers need to avoid these dams, portaging well
above and launching far below them. Dangerous currents below these dams are capable of trapping and holding you underwater for extended periods of time. Even the most experienced paddlers recognize that dams must always be avoided.
Wapsi Below Anamosa
Expedition &
Fishing Guide
Water Trails
Iowa
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Independence
Quasqueton
Anamosa
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Central City
New Hampton
Sumner
Waverly
Waterloo
Cedar Rapids
Mount VernonLowden
Charles City
Cedar River
MAP 1
Nashua
MAP 2
Wapsipinicon River
Clinton
De Witt
Dubuque
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Littleton Dam
Troy MillsDam
Anamosa Boat Dam
Independence Mill Dam
Pinicon Ridge Park Dam
Wakpicada
Twin Ponds
Stone City
Hay Access
Olin Access
Sweet Marsh
Alcock Park
Allens Grove
Sherman Park
Oxford Mills
Wapsie Access
Newport Mills
Cutshall Area
Rigdon Access
Brewer Access
Massillon Area
Matsell Bridge
Bruggeman Park
Siggelkov Park
Snyder Access
Syracuse Access
Sand Creek Area
Quasqueton ParkPine Creek Area
Boies Bend Area
Three Elms Area
Frogville Access
McCausland Access
Walnut Grove Park
Otterville Bridge
Smoke Town Access
Buena Vista Access
Pinicon Ridge Park
Bathing Beach Park
Wapsi Bluff Access
Wapsi Wildlife Area
Bruce ChildsAccess
Wapsi Junction Area
Jungletown River Access
WapsipiniconState Park
Seven Bridges Wildlife Area
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Wapsi Bend
Mickey Fox Wildlife Area
!lCutshall Bridge
River Birch Bottoms
Wapsi River Access
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Iron Bridge Access
Cedar Rock State Park
Quasqueton Dam
Troy Mills Co. Access
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Anamosa Boat Ramp
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!nDouble Dams
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!|Aldo Leopold Access
Troy Mills Wapsipinicon Access!y!
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!lWapsi River Environmental Education Center !|
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Quasqueton Boat Ramp!y
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Wapsipinicon River
Wapsipinicon River
Tripoli
Independence
Quasqueton
Anamosa
OlinOxford Junction
Wapsipinicon River
Central City
New Hampton
Sumner
Waverly
Waterloo
Cedar Rapids
Mount Vernon
Lowden
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photo by Kip Ladage
Cedar Rock Boat House
Wapsipinicon River Map 1
Legend
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Hard-surface boat ramp
Carry down access
Campground
Rapids or rock dam
Dam (danger!)Drinking water near river
!_ Restroom
5-mile markers, from mouth
Watercraft campsite
Federal or state highway
City or town
Paved & unpaved roads
Public lands
!l Fishing access| Unmaintained access
Great Blue Heron
Be safe out there!
Wear a life jacket!They really do save lives. It won’t work if you don’t wear it.
Don’t boat under the influenceFor your safety, don’t use alchohol or drugs on the water.
Watch for hazardsOn rivers, hazards like dams, fences, snags, rocks, and bridge abuttments may be present. Dams and snags in particular can be killers. Avoid them!
Plan to get wet!You may capsize, so dress for the weather. When the water and/or weather get cold, warm-when-wet clothing and a wetsuit are needed.
Stay legal!
Camping on sandbars is allowed on the Wapsipinicon River from Central City to the Mississippi River. Most areas along the Wapsi above Central City are privately owned – these waters are navigable, but you must respect private property.
Littering is a crime – pack out everything you bring in. Report littering or dumping by calling 888-NOLITTR.
Resources
Water trails and recent listing of canoe/kayak liverieswww.iowadnr.gov/watertrails/
River gageswaterdata.usgs.gov or www.rivergages.com
Federal regulations prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap. State law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, or disability. If you believe you have been discrimi-nated against in any program, activity or facility as described above, or if you desire further information, please write to the Iowa DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, Iowa, 50319.
Wapsipinicon River
The Wapsipinicon River begins its journey from Taopi, Minnesota and flows for 255 miles through Northeastern Iowa until it empties into the Mississippi River where it forms the border between Scott and Clinton counties. The stretch that flows through Mitchell, Howard, and Chickasaw counties is too small to support large populations of gamefish or float a canoe during normal water levels. However, like any natural stream, the “Wapsi” is a great place for wildlife viewing and a variety of other recreational activities along its entire length.
In Bremer and Black Hawk counties, the Wapsi flows through a long, swampy greenbelt of lowland river birch and silver maple woods, with backwaters extending over most of the flat bottomed valley. The river corridor between Sweet Marsh and the confluence with the Mississippi River has been designated a Protected Water Area by the Iowa Depart-ment of Natural Resources because of its scenic and natural qualities. Northern pike are common in the backwater ar-
eas of this river stretch. Channel catfish are abundant and can be caught near the numerous log jams and trees that have fallen into the river. Smallmouth bass and walleye are also common in the rock riffle areas. The Littleton
Dam is an historic structure that has always been a popular place to fish. Sweet Marsh, originally created with hunters in mind in the 1940s, also serves as one of the top bird watching areas in the state and offers many
other types of recreational opportunities, such as, fishing, paddling, hiking, and wildlife viewing. The Wapsi above Independence has been designated a Bird Conservation Area (BCA) due to its great diversity of
bird species.
Sweet Marsh
Channel Catfish