About Us

Paracreptotrematina parasite
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The La Crosse Fish Health Center: 

  • Provides fish health services for Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

  • Conducts fish health inspections at federal and tribal fish hatcheries.

  • Implements the National Fish Health Survey in the region. 

  • Provides diagnostic services for disease outbreaks at hatcheries and in wild populations for fish, mussels, and amphibians

  • Provides annual fish health training for multiple partners.

Our Mission

“Working in partnership, we provide leadership in science, technology and education for conservation of aquatic ecosystems emphasizing fisheries, aquatic invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species , genetics and aquatic animal health for the benefit of the public”.

Staff wipe fish health inspection bacteria samples in vile at La Crosse Fish Health Center
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Our History

1924 - Bureau of Fisheries moved to La Crosse’s Riverside Park.

1962 - The La Crosse Fish Health Center started with a single biologist stationed at the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. Staff moved several times until the 1990s.

1995 - The La Crosse Fish Health Center and the La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, along with the offices for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge - La Crosse District, moved to its current location in Onalaska, Wisconsin.  

2013 - The Midwest Fisheries Center was established, housing the Whitney Genetics Lab within the La Crosse Fish Health Center along with housing the La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and the Regional Watercraft Safety Coordinator.

2015 - The first Midwest Fisheries Center Director was hired in addition to core administrative and GIS staff.

2018 - The Midwest Fisheries Center lobby was renovated to add more workspace as well as visitor information and displays.

Other Facilities in this Complex

The Midwest Fisheries Center houses the La Crosse Fish Health Center, La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, Whitney Genetics Lab and administrative, GIS and outreach staff, as well as the Regional Watercraft Safety Coordinator.

Woman on boat with fish net in hand on Mississippi river.
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
La Crosse Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office was established in 1981 and works to monitor and control the spread of invasive species such as invasive carp and round goby as well as restore threatened and endangered freshwater mussels and fish like the Topeka shiner and  inter-jurisdictional ...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
PCR machine with blue strand of DNA
Whitney Genetics Laboratory
The Whitney Genetics Laboratory uses environmental DNA (eDNA) testing for early detection of invasive carp in the Chicago Area Waterway System, the Illinois, Upper Mississippi and Ohio Rivers as well as tributaries of all five Great Lakes. The lab also provides species identification via genetic...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI
A blue sky with clouds as the sun shines on the upper Mississippi River with green bluffs in the distance.
Midwest Fisheries Center
The Midwest Fisheries Center is the region’s Fish Technology Center for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish Technology Centers provide leadership in science-based management of trust aquatic resources through applied research and the development of new concepts, strategies and techniques to...
Conservation Office
Onalaska,WI