by Karen Katz, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area

A person is underwater in full scuba gear. The water is a cloudy emerald color and the person is looking at the camera. — Allison Holdhusen in full scuba gear. Photo credit: National Park Service.

Allison Holdhusen (she/her/they), Biological Science Technician, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
First year working for NPS: 2009

The river has always been a part of Allie’s life. They grew up hiking, biking and fishing along the Mississippi River. Allie remembers, “Fishing was like probing into this unknown world . . . I was staring at the surface all the time wondering what it looked like underneath, what lived down there.” Hidden Falls Regional Park was their favorite spot to fish as a kid. This strong connection to natural spaces motivated them to study biology and botany and ultimately led to their career as a biologist and scuba diver.

Allie started working for the park in 2009 as a seasonal biotech doing invasive plant management and vegetation surveys. They spent a lot of time on the water canoeing and driving motorboats and really got to know the river. Over the next five years, they continued working part-time and seasonal positions, holding other jobs to supplement their income. During that time, their role at the park varied; they worked on website management, river otter monitoring, and more. Allie was committed to learning and contributing to conservation work and eventually this hard work and dedication turned into a full-time, permanent position focused completely on wildlife conservation and management.

A person is flowing in the water holding two freshwater mussels they just found in the Mississippi River. They are wearing full scuba gear but have their mask and snorkel off. — Photo credit: National Park Service.

Allie became particularly interested in freshwater mussels. There are 29 species of freshwater mussels in the Mississippi River within the park boundaries (historically there were 43 species). Mussels, an often-overlooked creature, are a good indicator of water quality. They filter nutrients directly from the water and thus absorb any pollution present in the river; too much pollution in the river and you won’t find as many mussels. Mussels are also good indicators of habitat quality as they need undisturbed river beds and are vulnerable to being smothered by the invasive zebra mussel.

Two people wade in shallow water next to a pontoon. They are both wearing scuba gear and holding net sacks filled with freshwater mussels. — Photo credit: National Park Service.

In 2015, the National Park Service Midwest Region was gearing up for a mussel population survey and Allie was keen to involve the park. Allie expressed interest in helping with these surveys and as a motorboat operator imagined they’d drive the boat for the dive crew – turns out there was an opening on the dive team. Allie had always hoped to incorporate scuba into their career but in college hadn’t managed to find their way into a program that incorporated marine biology. Here was their chance. They had never been scuba diving before training with the National Park Service. Here’s what they had to say about their first dive at Hidden Falls Regional Park, their childhood fishing haunt:

“I remember my first dive (there) and looking at that spot from the pontoon boat thinking, wow, I’m about to find out what is underneath the water. I’m going to go underwater and see what it looks like. My past and my present all coming together. The most striking thing is the current is so strong. You can hear all the fish around you but you can’t see anything really. You’re just trying to cling to the substrate and look for mussels in your search timeframe.”

Five years later and Allie now serves as the Program Dive Officer for the Great Lakes Big Rivers Dive Program that supports and coordinates freshwater mussel conservation efforts in the Great Lakes region.

A group of people stand on a pontoon boat wearing life jackets. They are examining a pile of freshwater mussels for research. — Photo credit: National Park Service.

Allie knows the river well and hopes that their work allows others to discover it. “I get inspired to connect the public to the river in new ways. It seems like a lot of people that live here only drive over the river on bridges and that’s the only time they see it . . . they don’t know mussels exist and river otters live here.” Allie brings volunteers out to help with many of the wildlife surveys, including winter river otter surveys and summer dragonfly larvae monitoring. They love to share their knowledge of wildlife and conservation with others. When asked what inspires them about working for the National Park Service, Allie said,

“Serving a greater good by dedicating my career to preserving and understanding the natural resources [inspires me]. I’m contributing to those [natural resources] being here for the next generation. Thinking of my city and the river as a national treasure is special and motivational. I’m working to connect people to that.”

Now a mother, Allie enjoys exploring the beach for shells, rocks, plants and fish at Hidden Falls with their son. They encourage anyone contemplating a career in natural resources to pursue their dreams. As a queer person, Allie hopes that people will see their success as a park ranger and know that there is a place in the National Park Service for other queer folks, too.

A person wearing scuba gear holds a fresh water mussel up with their hand and smiles at the camera. They are near a river on a sunny dat. — Photo credit: National Park Service.

Women of the Mississippi: Allie Holdhusen