Fergus Falls WMD |
Sample Our District
The Fergus Falls District staff have come up with a list of WPAs that represent different aspects of our district for visitors to enjoy:
Rabbit River WPA is a 614 acre unit located in Western Township of Otter Tail County. Rabbit River is known for its abundant waterfowl, prairie chickens, and scenic prairie vistas. Waterfowl and pheasant hunting are great activities to participate in on this unit.
Tenhoff WPA is a 360 acre unit in Osakis Township of Douglas County. Tenhoff is known for a vibrant and lively marsh that covers a large portion of this unit. The marsh can be easily enjoyed from the road for those who are unable to walk log distances.
Ridgeway WPA is a 1,133 acre unit in Orwell Township of Otter Tail County. Ridgeway is known for an excellent complex of wetlands especially temporary and seasonal wetlands as well as spectacular prairie scenery. Its size alone makes it an impressive WPA. Wildlife observation as well as pheasant, waterfowl and deer hunting are some of the activities available here.
Fabian WPA is a 57 acre unit in Aastad Township of Otter Tail County. Fabian is a sleeper among WPAs. It is a small unit, but it has a native prairie with the most diverse mix of prairie plants and wildflowers anywhere in our district. This is a great place to photograph wildflowers during the summer.
Meadows WPA is a 1,233 acre unit in Meadows and Manston Townships of Wilkin County. Meadows is our largest WPA. Birding here in the spring is superb. The shallow water that covers this expansive prairie attracts a huge diversity of migrating waterfowl, shorebirds, prairie songbirds, and waterbirds. This unit provides a landscape perspective of what the prairie in this area used to look like.
Agassiz-Beachline WPA is a 680 acre unit in Carlisle Township of Otter Tail County. Agassiz has the largest tract of unbroken prairie in our district at 207 acres in size and has a total of 359 acres of unbroken native prairie. We have photographs of the native prairie on this unit being hayed using draft horses which reminds us of what prairie life was like for the settlers of this area. Wildlife observation and photography are excellent on this unit.
Odens WPA is a 520 acre WPA in Lund Township of Douglas County. Odens has a history of heavy waterfowl use due to the excellent quality, quantity, and diversity of wetlands on this tract. The rolling prairie hills on this unit also contain a large tract of oak savannah. Waterfowl and deer hunting are great activities on this tract.
Heinola WPA is 360 acre unit in Newton Township of Otter Tail County. Heinola has a great diversity of wetland types and sizes as well as some healthy stands of timber. This is great a great place to enjoy rolling prairie, a diverse wetland community, and woodland plants.
Spink WPA is a 750 acre unit in Delaware and Lien Townships of Grant County. Spink is also known for heavy waterfowl use. Spink surrounds a shallow alkali lake called Hibrooten Lake. Hibrooten Lake provides excellent habitat for diving ducks, and unique species like Wilson's phalarope have been seen here during migration. Waterfowl and deer hunting as well as wildlife observation will be impressive here.
Nicholson WPA is a 1,165 acre unit in Tumili Township of Otter Tail County. Nicholson is our second largest WPA and is known for its diversity of habitats including wetlands, prairie, woods, and the Pomme de Terre river bottom. The large marsh on the north end of the WPA is known for heavy waterfowl use, and Bald Eagles nest just west of this marsh each summer. The stand of timber on this tract has a good diversity of woodland plants.
