Who We Are Staff Volunteers Fact Sheet District Profile What We Do Wetland Restoration and Management Grassland Restoration and Management Prescribed Fire District Programs Waterfowl Production Areas Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR Easements Partners for Fish and Wildlife Public Use Opportunities Hunting Environmental Education Regulations How to Find Us County Maps WPA List News and Events Small Wetlands Program 2009 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Links Home Contact Us Phone: 507-831-2220 V/TTY: 800-627-3529 Address: 49663 County Road 17 Windom, MN 56101

What We Do

Prescribed fire is used aggressively as a tool to help restore and maintain prairie.

Maintaining diverse, healthy grasslands adjacent to wetland complexes interspersed with emergent vegetation is the main focus. This is accomplished by several management tools:

• Native prairie seed is harvested from local native prairies on both public and private lands and used to restore agricultural land. Prescribed fire is used aggressively as a tool to help restore and maintain prairie and keep non-native plants from overtaking the landscape.

• Wetlands are restored and managed by manipulating water levels in the spring and fall to provide natural food and habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds.

• Waterfowl populations are monitored on both refuge and private lands each spring by conducting breeding pair counts. Non-game species of grassland birds are also monitored for abundance and diversity.

• Another Refuge program, Partners for Fish and Wildlife, provides financial incentives and technical assistance for landowners to restore, enhance, and conserve wildlife habitat on private land.

• District staff also manage a public use program, including hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.
  

Last updated: July 18, 2008

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