Audubon Wetland Management District

Visitors Guide to Federal Waterfowl Production Areas, Wildlife Development Areas, and National Wildlife Refuges in McLean, Sheridan, and Ward Counties.

This goose, designed by J.N. "Ding" Darling, is the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Audubon Wetland Management District includes Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), and Wildlife Development Areas (WDAs) in McLean, Ward, and Sheridan Counties in North Dakota. These public lands contain wetland and grassland habitat for waterfowl, other migratory birds, and many other species of wildlife. Rotational grazing, haying, and prescribed burning are common techniques used to improve and maintain grasslands for nesting birds. These public lands help sustain North America’s waterfowl populations by providing secure wetland and grassland habitats.

WPA’s have been purchased by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. Established to protect and restore waterfowl habitat, nearly 95 percent of Waterfowl Production Areas in the U.S. are located in the prairie pothole region of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and northeastern Montana. Approximately 98 cents of each duck stamp dollar is used to purchase habitat.

WDA’s are lands purchased by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) as part of North Dakota’s Garrison Diversion Unit. Reclamation developed these areas for wildlife by restoring drained wetlands and planting cropland acres to grass. The WDAs were transferred to the Service to be managed primarily for the production of migratory birds and for public use.

*Open to public hunting, fishing, and trapping in accordance with Federal and State laws.

*Open to wildlife observation, photography, interpretation, and environmental education.

*All motor vehicles, including snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), are prohibited.

*Firearms are permitted only during open hunting seasons. Non-toxic shot is required for all migratory bird and upland game hunting.

*Littering is prohibited.

*Camping, overnight use, and fires are prohibited.

Eight National Wildlife Refuges are located in McLean, Sheridan, and Ward counties. A portion of these refuges are owned in fee title by the Service, and others are easement refuges. Easement refuges are private land in which the Service has purchased water rights and regulates hunting. Visitors should consult the refuge manager prior to entering a national wildlife refuge.

The Partner’s For Fish and Wildlife program develops and improves fish and wildlife habitat through cooperative efforts between landowners and the Service. The Service may pay for habitat improvements, or provide technical assistance and materials needed for the restoration of previously drained wetlands, creating new wetlands, planting grass and trees, and the development of rotational grazing systems.

Wetland Easements

A wetland easement is a legal agreement through which the Service pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands. Wetlands covered by an easement cannot be drained, filled, leveled, or burned. When these wetlands go dry naturally, they can be farmed, grazed, or hayed. The landowner retains ownership, and the easement does not affect hunting or mineral rights.

A grassland easement is a legal agreement through which the Service pays landowners to keep land permanently in grass. Land covered by a grassland easement may not be cultivated. Mowing, haying, and grass seed harvesting must be delayed until after July 15 each year. This restriction helps grassland nesting species, such as ducks and pheasants, complete their nesting before the grass is disturbed. Livestock grazing is not restricted in any way.

The Service makes Refuge Revenue Sharing payments to the counties to off-set lost tax revenue when these lands are sold to the federal government.

Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. For visitors using TTY, contact the North Dakota Relay Service at 711 or 1 800 / 366 6888. For more information or to address accessibility needs, please contact Audubon National Wildlife Refuge at 701/442 5474 or the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
3275 11^th St. NW
Coleharbor, ND 58531
701 / 442 5474
701 / 442 5546 fax

email: audubon@fws.gov
website: audubon.fws.gov

North Dakota Relay Service
TTY: 711 or 1 800 366 6888
Voice: 1 800 / 366 6889

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov
For Refuge Information
1 800 / 344 WILD

McLean County Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and Wildlife Development Areas (WDAs)

1 Aurena WPA
2 Blomeke WPA, Dossenko WPA, Williams WPA
3 Blue Hill WPA
4 Butte WPA
5 Coal Coulee WDA
6 East Fines WPA, West Fines WPA
7 East Park Lake WDA
8 Evanenko WPA
9 Falkirk WPA
10 Gaub WPA
11 Haas WDA
12 Haas WPA, Turtle Lake III WDA
13 Haugeberg WPA
14 Heckers Lake WDA
15 Hove-Young WPA
16 Ketterling WPA
17 Koenig WDA
18 Laib WPA
19 Lake Holmes Outlet WDA
20 Lake Williams North WDA
21 Lake Williams South WDA
22 Love WPA
23 McGinnis WPA
24 Orluck WPA
25 Otis WPA
26 Panko WPA
27 Rosemont WPA
28 Schott WPA
29 Snippen WPA
30 Stute WPA
31 Turtle Creek II WDA
32 Turtle Creek III WDA
33 Turtle Lake I WDA
34 Turtle Lake II WDA
35 Weishaar WPA
36 West Lost Lake WDA
37 Zarek WPA

1 Allen WPA, Laschkewitsch WPA, Weckerly WPA
2 Bahr WPA
3 Cartwright WPA
4 Davis WPA
5 Diamond WPA
6 Eddy WPA, Fetzer WPA
7 Ewert WPA
8 Fandrich WPA
9 Fox WPA, Kreiter WPA
10 Geigle WPA, Weltz WPA
11 Goodrich WDA, Weber WPA
12 Grayson WPA
13 Grimes WPA
14 Harris WPA
15 HelmWPA, Hillstrom WPA, Johnson Lake WDA
16 Holmes WPA
17 Indian Hills WDA
18 Johns Lake WPA
19 Johnson WPA
20 Jones WPA
21 Kindschi WPA, Kindschi WDA
22 Krueger WPA
23 Lasher WPA
24 Lincoln Valley North WDA
25 Lincoln Valley South WDA
26 Martin WPA
27 Mauch WPA
28 Mouldenhauer WPA
29 Oliver WPA
30 Oster WPA
31 Papke WPA
32 Reiser WPA
33 Schmeets WPA
34 Stotz WPA
35 Strassburg WPA
36 Thorson WPA
37 Tkach WPA

1 Albertson WPA
2 Anna WPA
3 Blum WPA
4 Brown WPA
5 Cameron WPA
6 Danielson WPA
7 Day WPA
8 East Muus WPA, West Muus WPA
9 Field WPA
10 Fox WPA
11 Gaines WPA
12 Galusha WPA
13 Halden-Schultz WPA
14 Hanson WPA
15 Kerchenko WPA
16 Knudson WPA
17 Knutson WPA
18 Kohoutek WPA
19 Kvam WPA
20 McCulloch WPA
21 Nelson WPA
22 Orlien WPA
23 Peterson WPA
24 Road WPA
25 Rooks WPA
26 Rovig WPA
27 Vendler Johnson WPA
28 Weltikol WPA
29 Wolff WPA

Please direct questions and comments to:

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
3275 11th St. NW
Coleharbor, North Dakota 58531-9419
Phone: (701) 442-5474
Email: Audubon@fws.gov

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge. • USFWS In  North Dakota • USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region
USFWS National Website •  USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System.

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