Comprehensive Conservation Plan

This plan is for the following units of the refuge complex:

• Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge
• Lake Andes Wetland Management District
• Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge

On completion, the comprehensive conservation plan will set out the management and use of all units of Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex for 15 years.

The refuge complex is located in southeastern South Dakota. Vegetation at the refuge complex is mostly native prairie consisting of tallgrass, mid-grass, and shortgrass prairie interspersed with small wetlands. Cottonwood–willow riparian habitat is dominant at Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge. Although the plant and wildlife species differ across prairie types, habitat across the refuge complex is extremely important to conservation of waterfowl, bald eagles, and grassland birds. Lake Andes is a natural, shallow prairie lake whose water supply depends entirely on natural runoff.

The headquarters of the refuge complex is in the town of Lake Andes, about 80 miles southwest of Sioux Falls.

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge

The purpose of the refuge is to preserve an important piece of habitat for waterfowl and other waterbirds.

• Established in 1936.
• Manages 5,639 acres, with a 4,702-acre easement from the State of South Dakota to manage Lake Andes and 937 acres owned in fee title.
• Located in Charles Mix County, South Dakota.

Two dikes built in the 1940s separate Lake Andes into three units. This refuge relies primarily on precipitation to fill the lake; however, limited water management capability exists on the Owens Bay unit.

Lake Andes Wetland Management District

The purpose of the district is to protect wetlands and grasslands that are scattered throughout agricultural areas.

• Established in 1961.
• Manages 104,243 acres, of which 87,725 acres are conservation easements or leases and 16,518 acres are waterfowl production areas owned in fee title.
• Cover 14 counties in South Dakota: Aurora, Bon Homme, Brule, Charles Mix, Clay, Davison, Douglas, Gregory, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, Turner, Union, and Yankton.

The Service acquired the waterfowl production areas with money from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, which are required to hunt waterfowl in the United States. The Service also acquires conservation easements on private lands to protect wetlands from drainage and grasslands from sod-busting. Waterfowl and other ground-nesting birds seek out these habitats and benefit from their protection.

Planning team leader
Bernardo Garza
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Refuge Planning
134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300
Lakewood, Colorado 80228

bernardo_garza@fws.gov
303 / 236 4377 telephone
303 / 236 4792 fax

Refuge complex email
lakeandes@fws.gov

Refuge complex address
Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex
38672 291st Street
Lake Andes, South Dakota 57356

Comprehensive conservation plan (CCP)
CCP 2013 (13 MB PDF)

By section, for faster download:
Contents, Summary (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 1, Introduction (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 2, The Refuge Complex (2 MB PDF)
Chapter 3, Refuge Complex Resources and Description (1 MB PDF)
Chapter 4, Management Direction (2 MB PDF)
Appendixes (6 MB PDF)

Draft CCP and environmental assessment EA 2012 (12 MB PDF)

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