On Wednesday, February 4, 2015, a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) train derailed along the Mississippi River at RM 598.1, 10 miles north of Dubuque near Balltown, IA. Eleven tanker cars transporting ethanol and two train engine cars derailed. Three tanker cars ignited from the derailment and three cars plummeted into the Mississippi River. Approximately 55,000 gallons of ethanol, which is highly toxic to aquatic life, was discharged. A mussel survey at the derailment site revealed a significant mussel bed in the immediate area of the derailment that contained the federally endangered Higgins eye pearlymussel. Natural resources under the trusteeship of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were impacted by the derailment including 27 unionid species that were either attached to frozen sediment on the rail cars and killed during the remedial action of removing the rail cars from the Mississippi River or found recently deceased at the derailment site. Ethanol spread throughout the Mississippi River, including into three overwintering fish areas. No fish kills were observed, but the harsh winter conditions and thick ice in the overwinter areas made detection of deceased fish very difficult. On April 1, 2021 the Trustees reached a Natural Resource Damage settlement with CP for $282,391.56. These funds will be used to support restoration projects including mussel propagation and restocking, cold water streambank stabilization and restoration, restoration of an overwintering fish area through dredging, and rehabilitation of a boat ramp and dock, adding handicap accessibility. The Trustees are currently developing a restoration plan that will be made available for public review and comment. The Trustees will update this website as the plan progresses.