Public Feedback Requested on Upper & Lower Dam Mitigation

The public is invited to provide feedback on potential mitigation alternatives for the Upper and Lower Dams on the Upper Iowa River.

The alternatives were presented at a public meeting held on Tuesday, June 18 at Luther College in Decorah. The materials and maps presented at the meeting are available for viewing online. For best viewing, we recommend accessing the files maps on a computer or tablet screen, rather than a phone screen.

An online comment form will be available through June 30, 2024. Public feedback is an important part of ensuring that future decisions related to Upper and Lower Dam mitigation take into consideration local interests and concerns.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is exploring options for mitigation of the Upper and Lower Dams on the Upper Iowa River under a plan developed in 2010 to respond to the state’s aging low head dam infrastructure. The plan prioritizes local interests and concerns while striving to reduce dam-related hazards and balance ecological, recreational, navigational, and economic benefits. 

Numerous partners are involved in the project, including LT Leon Associates, the Iowa DNR Land and Waters and Fisheries Bureaus, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Northeast Iowa RC&D. 

For more information, please contact Paul Berland of Northeast Iowa RC&D at (563) 864-7112 or visit www.northeastiowarcd.org/upperlowerdams.