Comprehensive Conservation Plan

The comprehensive conservation plan sets out the management and use of Huron, Madison, and Sand Lake Wetland Management Districts for 15 years. These districts in eastern South Dakota are mostly native prairie (tallgrass, midgrass, and shortgrass) dotted with small wetlands.

The primary purpose for districts is to assure the long-term viability of breeding waterfowl populations while considering the needs of other wildlife. Districts consist of waterfowl production areas and conservation easements for wetland and grassland, where landowners retain ownership while the Service purchases the right to protect wetland from drainage and grassland from sod-busting.

The Huron, Madison, and Sand Lake Districts support large blocks of native prairie ecosystems in their waterfowl production areas and conservation easements, providing quality habitat for waterfowl and many other wildlife species. The Service has authorized hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation on district lands.

Huron Wetland Management District

• Established in 1992.
• Manages 257,057 acres, of which 239,577 acres are conservation easements or leases and 17,480 acres are waterfowl production areas owned in fee title.
• Covers eight counties: Beadle, Buffalo, Hand, Hughes, Hyde, Jerauld, Sanborn, and Sully.
• Headquartered in Huron, South Dakota.

Visitors will find a rich variety of animal and plant life—native grasses, wildflowers, and wetland plants—in natural prairie settings. Waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds, and resident wildlife species are plentiful. The focus is to provide breeding, resting, and migration habitat for the hundreds of prairie species that pass through each year.

Madison Wetland Management District

• Established in 1962.
• Manages 5,569 acres, of which 2,388 acres are conservation easements or leases and 3,181 acres are waterfowl production areas owned in fee title.
• Covers nine counties: Brookings, Deuel, Hamlin, Kingsbury, Lake, McCook, Miner, Minnehaha, and Moody.
• Headquartered 2 miles east of Madison, South Dakota.

District wetlands and lakes mark the western edge of the tallgrass prairie, the most threatened ecosystem in North America. Waterfowl production areas are improved for wildlife—wetlands may be restored or created by plugging a ditch or constructing a low dam. Uplands, previously farmed, are planted to nesting cover or as food plots in preparation for their restoration to native prairie.

Blue-winged teal, mallard, snow goose, and Canada goose are common waterfowl. Other common waterbirds are American white pelican and shorebirds. Mammals include white-tailed deer, beaver, red fox, and coyote.

Comprehensive conservation plan (CCP)
CCP 2012 (14 MB PDF)

By section, for faster download:
Contents, Summary (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 1—Introduction (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 2—The Districts (3 MB PDF)
Chapter 3—District Resources and Description (2 MB PDF)
Chapter 4—Management Direction (4 MB PDF)
Appendixes (7 MB PDF)

Draft CCP and environmental assessment (EA) 2011 (21 MB PDF)

By section, for faster download:
Contents, Summary (6 MB PDF)
Chapter 1—Introduction (7 MB PDF)
Chapter 2—The Districts (7 MB PDF)
Chapter 3—Alternatives (6 MB PDF)
Chapter 4—Affected Environment (7 MB PDF)
Chapter 5—Environmental Consequences (6 MB PDF)
Chapter 6—Implementation of the Proposed Action (8 MB PDF)
Appendixes (12 MB PDF)