Crains Island II

Conserving forested bottomlands

Crains Island is a 569-acre parcel of a remnant-braided riparian corridor habitat along the Mississippi River. It includes forested bottomlands comprised of native oak, elm, and cottonwood that provide soil stability, wildlife cover, and shading for shallow braided side-channels. The island also provides nesting and foraging habitat for special status species, including the recently delisted bald eagle, and is part of the Mississippi River Flyway, a vital migration corridor for waterfowl and 160 species of neo-tropical songbirds.

In 2006 ALC acquired nearly 400 acres from the largest single landowner on Crains Island, which was conveyed to the Crains Island Unit of the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge in early 2007.

In 2008, with support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Ducks Unlimited, ALC acquired a additional 170 acres which were conveyed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for inclusion with the refuge as well. FWS ownership will help restore flood-prone farmland into a functioning wetland habitat and allow for fish and wildlife habitat enhancement projects. Further, the easy accessibility of this parcel makes it an ideal location for public recreation and education.

For more information about the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: www.fws.gov/Midwest/MiddleMississippiRiver/.