Station Facts

• Established: July 1971

• Counties in District: LaMoure, Dickey, Logan and McIntosh.

• Waterfowl Production Areas: 201 units totaling 45,683 acres.

• Wetland Easements: 1,554 contracts protecting 111,996 acres.

• Grassland Easements: 90 contracts protecting 33,530 acres.

• Three Easement and small fee National Wildlife Refuges totaling 4,152 acres.

• FmHA Conservation Easements: 27 contracts protecting 4,130 acres.

Natural History

• Landscape formed by glacial action.

• Three physiographic regions: drift prairie, Missouri coteau and coteau slope.

• Tens of thousands of wetlands or "prairie potholes" created by glaciers.

• The James River system runs southward through the drift prairie creating an important migration pathway and riparian zone.

• Mixed grass species: transition area between the tall grass and short grass prairies.

• Prior to settlement, bison, antelope, wolves, prairie grouse, waterfowl and many other species of wetland or grassland dependent wildlife thrived.

• Landscape changes as a result of European immigrants reduced the number of wetlands and acres of native grassland.

• Remaining wealth of grasslands and wetlands continue to produce large numbers of waterfowl.

District Objectives

• Optimize waterfowl production.

• Preserve and protect native grasslands.

• Provide and maintain quality upland and wetland habitat capable of supporting healthy migratory bird populations.

• Assist private landowners with restoration of wildlife habitat.

• Provide opportunities for quality wildlife dependent recreation.

• Provide opportunities for environmental education.

Management Tools

• Grassland restoration using grazing, haying, fire, and cultivation/re-seeding.

• Noxious weed control using mowing/haying, biological control agents and herbicides.

• Water level management of impoundments.

• Acquisition of new Waterfowl Production Areas, Grassland and Wetland Easements.

• Private landowner agreements through the Partners For Wildlife Program.

• GIS/GPS hardware and software used intensively in management programs.

• Law enforcement of public use activities, migratory bird hunting and Easements contracts.

• Intensive surveillance and management of Avian Botulism and other wildlife disease problems.

Public Use Opportunities

• Waterfowl, upland game bird and deer hunting.

• Fishing, including wintertime fishing for perch, northern pike and some walleyes.

• Recreation oriented trapping.

• Wildlife observation and photography.

• Environmental education.

• Volunteer opportunities.

Financial Impact to Local Communities

• 50,000 visitors annually.

• Cooperative haying and grazing agreements with landowners.

• Habitat restoration and improvement agreements that are compatible with farming and ranching.

• Grants used for wetland and grassland easement acquisitions.

• Cost-share funding to restore and improve wildlife habitat and profitability of farming and ranching operations.

• Grant funding available for wetland and grassland easement acquisitions.
  

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service