e ATIONAL 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM 

&AQUARIUM 

US Army Corps 

of Engineers® 

I. PURPOSE 

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT 

Between the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division 

and 

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium 

of the Dubuque County Historical Society 

This Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is entered into by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(Corps) Mississippi Valley Division (MVD) and the National Mississippi River Museum and 

Aquarium of the Dubuque County Historical Society (Museum), a not-for-profit educational 

corporation, for the purpose of establishing a mutual framework of cooperation between the Parties 

where and when feasible to: 

1. promote an effective working relationship through communication and cooperation 

among agencies, non-governmental organizations, and corporations working to advance 

awareness and appreciation of ideas, technology, issues and needs for the Mississippi 

River Watershed; 

2. advance awareness and appreciation of "America's Watershed" to promote an 

intergenerational commitment to educate and connect people to the Mississippi River's 

environmental and economical bounty; and 

3. support the organizational goals of both parties. 
II. THE PARTIES 

A The Corps has played and continues to play a significant role in: 

1. developing and integrating new engineering and environmental technologies with a 

broad technical team experienced in aspects covering all Corps missions. Staff 

support is available for technical aspects of engineering, construction management, 

environmental protection and restoration, operations, maintenance and repair 

activities; 

2. supporting the social, cultural and economic aspects of the Mississippi River and the 

Nation, including development and maintenance of the navigation channel, the lock 

and dam system, flood risk management, recreation, Tribal Nation coordination and 

ecosystem restoration; 

3. providing stewardship of the environment and habitat of the Mississippi River through 

resource management, environmental design and studies, environmental mitigation, 

restoration, and enhancement programs, and; 

4. helping preserve the history of the Mississippi River through archeological and 

historical studies, artifact preservation, record keeping and preparation of histories of 

the MVD and its Districts. 

B. The Museum is located at the historic Dubuque Ice Harbor. The Harbor was authorized by 

an act of Congress and constructed by the Corps in 1885. It served as the site of the Iowa Iron 

Works and Dubuque Boat and Boiler Works which built boats for the Corps, the US Coast 

Guard, the US Navy, and private industry from 1870 to 1972. The Museum has played and 

continues to play a significant role in: 

1. researching and interpreting the Mississippi River and the rivers of America, and 

collections including the Corps dredge William M. Black (a National Historic 

Landmark), the Corps Hennepin Canal Workboat Canton, the collection of Henry 

Bosse Cyanotypes of Mississippi River navigational improvement, and other 

significant resources; 

2. leading and coordinating museums, interpretive centers, and environmental 

organizations in their efforts to preserve the Mississippi River Watershed; 

3. conducting and coordinating research related to water quality, nutrient reduction, and 

species propagation and protection; and 

4. researching, planning, and working with scholars and planners from the Corps; the 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; the US Environmental Protection 

Agency; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the US Fish and Wildlife 

Service Region 3; the US Geological Survey; and several State Departments of 

Natural Resources, supporting the need and opportunity to continue this work. 

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Ill. RESPONSIBILITIES 

A. Both parties are committed to: 

1. establishing and maintaining a meaningful, professional relationship through the sharing 

of expertise, open communications and dialogue, exchange of ideas and cooperation to 

aid the museum in increasing their science and research capabilities; 

2. serving the Public by providing comprehensive engineering, planning, management, and 

technical support through educational and interpretive opportunities to enhance 

understanding of the Corps' multiple missions described above; and 

3. fostering an ongoing, cooperative relationship between the Museum and the Mississippi 

River Commission History Center. 

B. The Corps, to the extent that it has appropriate authority and resources, shall: 

1. participate in the development of indoor and outdoor exhibits about the Mississippi River 

that relate to the navigation corridor, locks and dams, wing dams, flood risk 

management, recreation, sedimentation, water quality, and wildlife habitat; 

2. participate in providing technical support for science based research; 

3. endeavor to inform the Museum of relevant manuscripts, artifacts, maps, photographs, 

and other resources emanating from the MVD and its Districts that may be provided to or 

shared with the Museum in accordance with the procedures and approvals set forth in 

Army Regulation 870-20, Historical Activities: Museums, Historical Artifacts, and Army 

Art; and 

4. participate in providing information and technical assistance for restoration of the Corps 

dredge William M. Black (retired). 

C. The Museum, to the extent that it has appropriate resources, shall: 

1. work towards the protection, preservation and awareness of the Mississippi River 

watershed through its efforts and the efforts of its partners; 

2. operate and maintain research programs, exhibit and educational programming for the 

Mississippi River including the interaction between humans and natural environment 

over time, subject to, and to the extent allowed by Federal, State, and local regulatory 

programs; 

3. interpret the cultural landscape of the river including the Ice Harbor, floodwall, navigation 

corridor, and historic boatyard which operated on the site from 1870 to 1972; 

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4. preserve the Corps dredge William M. Black and interpret the life of the officers and crew 

and their work to create navigation channels, flood risk management, and other tasks on 

the vessel; 

5. through the National Rivers Hall of Fame, interpret the history of the men and women of 

the inland waters of the United States: pathfinders; builders and inventors; river people; 

and artists, writers, and musicians; 

6. present a balanced view of the Mississippi River and the issues facing it in the future, 

including the need for multiple uses and protection of the river; and 

7. continue to serve as a Coastal Ecosystem Learning Center, a designation by Coastal 

America. 

D. This MOA is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligation document. Any endeavor involving 

reimbursement or contribution of funds between the parties to this MOA will be handled in 

accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures. Such endeavors, if any, will be 

outlined in separate agreements that shall be made in writing by representatives of the parties 

and shall be independently authorized by appropriate statutory authority. This MOA does not 

provide such authority, nor establish authority for the noncompetitive award to the Museum of 

any contract or other agreement. 

E. The following are points of contact for specific action planning and development purposes: 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District: 

Ken Barr, Chief, Environmental and Economics Branch, (309) 794-5349 

Wendy Frohlich, Biologist, Environmental and Economics Branch, (309) 794-5573 

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium: 

Alan Stache, Chief Operating Officer, (563)-557-9545, Ext. 205 

Mark Wagner, Education Director, (563)-557-9545, Ext. 206 

IV. EFFECTIVE DATE 

The period for this agreement shall be 5 years, commencing on the date of the last signature 

thereto. Cancellation shall be by either party upon written notice of same. This agreement may 

be extended upon mutual written agreement by the Corps and the Museum. 

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SIGNATURES: 

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT 

Between the 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division 

and 

The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium 

of the Dubuque County Historical Society 

US ARM CORPS OF ENGINEERS 

MIS SIP I VALLEY DIVIS ON 

21J uw 2vl ( 

Date 

MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM AND AQUARIUM 

Dubuque County Historical Society 

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