Pearl Island barge fleetingCity Manager's Office
50 West 13th S~reet
Dubuque, Iowa 520ffi~64
(319) 589-4110
(319) 589-4149 FAX
January 12, 2000
Jim Fisher
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
51 E. 4th Street
Winona, MN 55987
Dear Mr. Fisher:
I appreciated our meeting on December 20, 1999 to discuss the future of Pearl Island.
The City of Dubuque supports your position that barge fleeting will be permanently
removed from Pearl Island. This is consistent with the City's Comprehensive Plan (an
effort involving 5,000 area residents with final approval coming from the Dubuque City
Council in 1995), the City's Riverfront Plan and the spirit of intent of the $27 million
America's River Project. The project involves a large segment of the community and,
specifically, the Dubuque County Historical Society, the Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce, the City of Dubuque, the State of Iowa and the Federal government.
The City of Dubuque, like many communities along the Mississippi River, is in the
process of taking a fresh look at the river as both an economic and an environmental
asset to the community. With the steady growth of tourism in the region and national
attention to the river, the City realizes it has an opportunity at its doorstep - to
discover the river and find ways to capitalize on its history and beauty as an asset to
our community.
As part of this process, the community is evaluating how to protect the natural and
scenic resources on the riverfront and on the islands within view of the community
and, at the same time, provide for and support the commercial ventures who need
parts of our riverfront for barge terminals and fleeting purposes.
In recognition of the multiple purposes and values of our riverfront, the City would like
to protect Pearl Island (see enclosed map) for wildlife habitat and to protect its scenic
beauty, while consolidating barge fleeting at another site just downstream as described
on the attached map and fact sheet.
Because the islands in question are currently part of the Upper Mississippi National
Wildlife and Fish Refuge, moving forward with this proposal will require the approval of
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We currently have the agreement of Newt Marine.
The National Audubon Society'has expressed a willingness to assist us in this effort as
a nonprofit organization with a vital interest in the health of the river as well as the
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
John Connors
Page 2
prosperity of the people who live along it.
The City of Dubuque would like to rescind a 1998 request to permit barge fleeting on
Pearl Island. It is in the best interest of our community to have barge fleeting
eliminated from Pearl Island and a sharing arrangement between Artco Fleeting and
Newt Marine on Island 228. The City's preference is that a permanent conservation
easement be put on Pearl Island under the management of the National Audubon
Society through a land exchange with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which would
increase the refuge holdings in a manner determined by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to enhance the refuge.
The content of this letter was approved by the Dubuque City Council at their regularly
scheduled meeting of January 17, 2000.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
CC
Gary Newt, Newt Marine, Dubuque, IA 52001
John Butler, Cottingham and Butler, P.O. Box 28, Dubuque, IA 52004-0028
Ed Britton, USFWS, P.O. Box 336, Savanna, IL 61074
Dan McGuiness, Audubon Society, 26 E. Exchange 55 #2151 St. Paul, MN
55101
Brent Nissen, Artco Fleeting, P.O. Box 585, Cassville, WI 53806
John J. Connors, Realty Specialist, Division of Realty, Bishop Henry Whipple
Federal Bldg., 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
Pauline Joyce, Administrative Services Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Sue Czeshinski, Convention and Visitors Bureau
MCVM/dd
ILLINOIS
IOWA
MILE 574 TO MILE 582
6o0o'
Island Exchange Proposal
Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
I. The Issues and Parties Involved:
Two islands downstream of Dubuque, Iowa, owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and in the
refuge, have, for several years, been used for the fleeting of private barges in association with barge
terminals in the vicinity. The acreage in question is about 27 acres of land. (See attached navigation
chart with islands noted.)
During an "incompatible uses" evaluation by the refuge several years ago, these islands, because of
their long-standing use for fleeting, were determined to be "incompatible" thus the refuge sought to
exchange these lands for other lands elsewhere desirable for refuge purposes. There have been a few
efforts to carry out exchanges, involving two barge companies, Newt Marine and Archer Daniels
Midland (ADM).
There is interest by local citizens and the City of Dubuque to discontinue barge fleeting at the upstream
island to keep it as natural habitat and as a backdrop for Dubuque's emerging riverfront
beautification and trails system. The City, local citizens, and the National Audubon have an interest
in pursuing a land exchange that would result, ultimately, in the upstream-most island not being used
for fleeting, but for open space and habitat. It is our proposal that existing barge fleeting needs be met
by consolidating fleeting at the downstream island, ~vhich is currently being used for this purpose. The
City of Dubuque and Audubon are interested in seeking agreement among all parties to implement this
project so that the upstream island can be maintained into perpetuity as a natural open space and
habitat to augment the City's riverfront restoration project.
IL A Proposal that has potential for all-around support:
We would like to proceed, as expeditiously as possible, with the following approach
A. Meet in Dubuque in November with representatives of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
the City of Dubuque, local barge interests, interested private individuals and Audubon, to
seek concurrence in this approach and resolve any issues regarding needed alternative
fleeting sites to enable continued support for the farm and community economy.
B. Expedite the land exchange, with the National Audubon Society serving as potential long-
term owner of the upstream-most island with a permanent conservation easement on the
deed for natural habitat and open space.
For More Information Contact:
National Audubon Society
Dan McGuiness, Upper Mississippi River Office
1 (651) 290-1695 or dmcguiness~audubon.org