WHO WE ARE District Fact Sheet District Profile NATURAL HISTORY HABITAT MANAGEMENT Land Acquisition Grassland Management Prescribed Fire Private Lands Program Wetland Management PUBLIC USE OPPORTUNITIES Waterfowl Production Areas WPA Regulations Sample Our District PWLC and Environmental Education Coming: New Facilities DISTRICT INFORMATION How To Find District Facilities Financial Impact of District News Releases Frequently Asked Questions Contact Us DOWNLOAD MAPS WPA LIST BIRD LIST SMALL WETLANDS PROGRAM 2008 DUCK STAMP CONTEST LINKS Fergus Falls WMD 18965 County Highway 82 Fergus Falls, MN 56537 Phone: 218-739-2291

Contacting the Office:

District Manager: Kevin Brennan
e-mail: kevin_brennan@fws.gov

18965 County Highway 82
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
Phone: 218-739-2291
Fax: 218-739-9534
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)

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District Facts

• Established: 1962

• Waterfowl Production Areas: 215 units totaling 43,962 acres

• Wetland easements: 1,142 totaling 23,935 acres

• Grassland easements: 8 totaling 797 acres

• FmHA easements: 30 totaling 2,567 acres

• District also manages a 243-acre tract of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR

• Counties in district: Otter Tail, Grant, Douglas, Wilkins and Wadena

Financial Impact

• 50,000 visitors annually

• FY 2006 Budget: $2.5 million

• Staff: 19 permanent; 11 temporary

Natural History

• Landscape dotted with thousands of small wetlands or “prairie potholes,” 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 80 percent of the small wetlands

• The area remains a critical waterfowl production and migration area - the highest nesting density in Minnesota was recorded here (3.5 nests per acre)

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

Priorities

• Restoring and rehabilitating prairie wetland complexes to enhance waterfowl production and migration habitat

• Expanding the prairie science class at the Prairie Wetlands Learning Center

Public Use Opportunities

• Trapping and hunting

• Wildlife observation

• Environmental education

Prairie Wetlands Learning Center

• Built through a cooperative effort between the city of Fergus Falls, the state of Minnesota and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• Promotes wetland and prairie stewardship

• Provides day and residential environmental education programs for students

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