District Facts

• Established: 1968
• Waterfowl Production Areas: 165 units - 40,089 acres
• Wetland Easements: 313 easements - 11,326 wetland acres
• Satellite station: Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, Polk County, 2,210 acres
• Counties in District: Becker, Clay, Mahnomen, Norman, and Polk

Natural History

• Landscape dotted with thousands of small wetlands or "prairie potholes," and many lakes created by glaciers
• Prior to settlement, this area was a paradise for waterfowl, prairie chickens, whooping cranes, bison, wolves, and other prairie wildlife
• Agriculture changes to the landscape included the loss of most native prairie and the drainage of over 50 percent of the small wetlands
• The area remains a critical waterfowl production and migration area

Financial Impact of Office

• 15,600 visitors annually

FWS Home Page

FWS Region 3 Home Page

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1 Federal Drive
BHW Federal Building
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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District Objectives

• Acquire, develop and manage habitat for waterfowl production
• Provide habitat for native plants and animals, especially prairie songbirds
• Assist private landowners with restoration of wetlands and grasslands
• Provide wildlife-dependent recreation and education

Management Tools

• Water level management
• Acquisition from willing sellers
• Wetland and grassland restoration
• Prescribed burning
• Private lands agreements

Public Use Opportunities

• Volunteer programs
• Trapping
• Hunting
• Environmental education
• Wildlife observation
• Interpretation