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Conservation Through Cooperation...
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To promote the preservation
and wise utilization of the natural and recreational resources of
the Upper Mississippi River, 
To formulate policies,
plans, and programs for carrying on cooperative surveys and studies,
To keep necessary records,
publish, and distribute reports, and
To make recommendations
to the governing State bodies in the furtherance of the objectives
of the UMRCC.
Development of the Upper Mississippi River has resulted in many multi-use conflicts requiring concerted conservation action. On December 15,1943, 22 fish and wildlife biologists and administrators met at Dubuque, Iowa to discuss a common approach to preservation and development of the river's resources. At this meeting, the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) was born and has been an active voice ever since!
THE MEMBER states - Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin - joined forces with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide continuing cooperation between conservation agencies responsible for fish, wildlife and recreational management on the Upper Mississippi River.
SOON others, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and various pollution control agencies, became active cooperators in UMRCC programs.
THROUGH many years, the scope of the UMRCC interests and activity has expanded to include water and related land use from the confluence of the Ohio River north to Hastings, Minn., a distance of 819 river miles.
FOR THE benefit and appreciation of people interested in the natural amenities and values of the River, including fishermen, hunters, boaters, naturalists and others.
Conservation Through Cooperation...
Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee activities and business are administered through the Chairman, Executive Board and Coordinator. Sub-committees of state and cooperating agency representatives comprise technical work groups for fisheries, water quality, wildlife, recreation and water use, and law enforcement. Cooperative projects such as strategic plans, recreation use surveys, commercial fishing statistics, waterfowl and wildlife censuses, fish tagging, and water safety enforcement provide a diversity of UMRCC effort.
THE COMMITTEE strives to monitor the fishery, both sport and commercial. Extensive creel censuses and recreational use surveys are undertaken periodically to measure change in the river's use. Along with such studies, the Committee also functions as an advisory body on all technical aspects of fish, wildlife and recreation. Recommendations on conservation laws, programs and legislation are made to the governing state bodies and the federal government.
AN IMPORTANT role of the Committee is to maintain a continuing evaluation of the river ecosystem and of ever-changing recreational resources. The Committee is, therefore, interested in regulatory management of pollution, sedimentation, flooding, impounding, channelization, and public use. It also works closely with other conservation organizations, both private and government, with similar objectives.
--visitors to this page since 10 December 1997
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