2009 Federal Duck Stamp Contest Phone: 507-831-2220 |
Contacting the District:
District Manager: Mark Vaniman
e-mail: WindomWMD@fws.gov or MidwestNews@fws.gov
49663 County Road 17
Windom, MN 56101-3026
Phone: 507-831-2220
Fax: 507-831-5524
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)
The District office is located 1/2 mile east of Windom on County Road 17
District Facts
• Established: 1990
• Staff: seven
• Waterfowl Production Areas: 65 units totalling 13,000 acres
• Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR: 752 acres with 55 easement acres
• Wetland/Habitat easements: 55 totaling 2,734 acres
• Counties in district: Brown, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Jackson, Martin, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock and Watonwan
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 50 percent of the small wetlands
• The area remains a critical waterfowl production and migration area
Financial Impact
• 25,000 visitors annually
• FY 2006 Budget: $705,700
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
• Assist the state with the Heron Lake Restoration Project
Management Tools
• Water level management
• Acquisition from willing sellers
• Wetland and grassland restoration
• Prescribed burning
• Private landowner agreements
Public Use Opportunities
• Trapping
• Hunting
• Wildlife observation
• Interpretation and environmental education
• District headquarters with visitor contact station built in 2001
• Walking Trail 3/4 mile asphalt built in 2006
