Significant Land Acquisition Accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2005

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acquired fee title or other interest in nearly 225,000 acres of land in Fiscal Year 2005, and the number of national wildlife refuges increased from 544 in FY 2004 to 545 in FY 2005. The new unit established as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System in FY 2005 was the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Minnesota.

Glacial Ridge NWR: The Director established the refuge and the first interest was acquired on October 26, 2004. The refuge is comprised of 2,309 acres and it is located on the edge of the Prairie Pothole region in northwestern Minnesota, and will provide exceptional habitat for a variety of bird species common to wet meadows and marshes.

Also, numerous partnership opportunities resulted in several additions to existing national wildlife refuges. In FY 2005, the Service added 168 acres to the Sacramento River NWR. The riparian wetlands found on the refuge provide, preserve, and restore habitat for threatened and endangered species, waterfowl, neotropical birds, other wildlife, fish and plants.

After several years of complex negotiations, the Service acquired lands and real property interests from of the Estate of James Campbell for addition to the James Campbell NWR totaling over 250 acres. Of this total, 16 acres are in easements for road and drainage needs, and 19 acres are currently leased at no cost. The refuge is the Island of Oahu’s premier endangered waterbird recovery area.

By partnering with The Conservation Fund (TCF), the Service was able to acquire 1,082 acres which is located within the acquisition boundary of the lower Cane River Unit of the Red River NWR. This refuge is a string of five separate units along the Red River in northwest Louisiana which serve as a cornerstone for restoration of fish and wildlife habitats on this 280-mile stretch of the river. Along with the land for land exchange completed, the Service has now added a total of 3,156 acres to this unit.

The Service was able to complete the first phase of a large acquisition by adding 2,947 acres to the Tensas River NWR in Louisiana. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) originally purchased the 8,224 acre tract and has agreed to sell it to the Service as funding becomes available. The refuge currently exists as two separate units and this acquisition will provide significant biological benefits by connecting the two refuge units thereby providing a wildlife corridor and increasing the size and continuity of refuge lands.

With the acquisition of 551 acres at the Cache River NWR, the Service completed a multi-year phased acquisition of 4,362 acres with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). This property represents over seven miles of very crucial riparian habitat along the Cache River and adds to some of the largest contiguous blocks of bottomland hardwood forest in the Lower Mississippi River Valley. The Service initiated another multi-year phased acquisition with TNC for a farm area which consists of 3,094 acres. The Service acquired a total of 1,440 acres of this farm to date. This tract has been restored to bottomland hardwoods, thus providing waterfowl habitat. This refuge is considered to be an important wintering area for mallards in North America, and some of the most important for pintails, teal, Canada geese, and other migratory waterfowl. The recent rediscovery on the refuge of the Ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird long thought extinct, highlights the benefits that these crucial waterfowl habitats provide to other species as well.

By working with partners like TNC, TPL, TCF, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Service reached a milestone in the Northeast Region by acquiring the half-millionth acre as a result of an 847 acre conservation easement at Rappahannock River Valley NWR. This refuge protects wetlands and other habitat along the river and its tributaries provides prime habitat for waterfowl, bald eagles and other migratory birds. Additionally, we acquired a 325 acre conservation easement from the Menokin Foundation. This property includes the shoreline of Cat Point Creek and was recently designated as a bald eagle concentration area.

The Service acquired a unique and diverse wetland complex of 1,073 acres at Lake Umbagog NWR. Wildlife values include waterfowl production and migration habitat. This area is an important breeding site for the common loon in New Hampshire and is recognized as one of the most important breeding areas in the northeastern United States for its high nesting success. Large populations of moose and black bear also utilize this area.

The Service added 1,791 acres for the Pondicherry Division of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. The Pondicherry Division is a special focus area within the 7.2 million acre Connecticut River Watershed. This northern forest wetland complex provides habitat for numerous species of waterfowl. Acquisitions will support the Atlantic Joint Venture goal of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan by protecting and allowing the management of priority wetland habitats for migrating and breeding waterfowl, with special consideration for black ducks.

The Service finalized the purchase with TNC of an additional 53,642 acres at the Baca NWR. The refuge is located in the San Luis Valley, which contains the largest and most important concentration of wetlands in Colorado. Also, the State of Colorado transferred 21,454 leased acres to the Service.

In partnership with Ducks Unlimited, the Mountain-Prairie Region of the Service was able to acquire grassland easements covering over 22,000 acres.

TCF donated 13,074 acres for addition to the Alaska Peninsula NWR. The parcel provides a variety of important habitats, including low tundra, ponds, streams, riparian wetlands, and shorelines. A number of migratory water birds feed, rest, and stage habitat in this area. The parcel also provides winter browse. Also, the Service acquired a 10 acre bay front tract at the head of Herendeen Bay that provides habitat for migratory and resident birds and numerous mammals are sighted in this area.

Land adjacent to the Kenai NWR consisting of 9 acres was acquired as a staging area for access to the designated Wilderness Area within the refuge.

The Service purchased a nearly-half acre site for the future Kodiak NWR visitor center. This visitor center will be built in downtown Kodiak near the ferry terminal, which will be much more accessible to residents and tourists.

The Koyukuk NWR grew by 80 acres. The tract lies in rich floodplain that supports diverse assemblage of plants and animals. This area is noteworthy for the large number of moose that are attracted to the riparian willows and alders along the river.

The Service purchased 160 acres in the Selawik NWR that is located in the Tagagawik River drainage. This area supports healthy populations of Arctic grayling, northern pike, and burbot. This land is also an important migratory corridor and wintering area.

The Togiak NWR increased by 430 acres. The acquisitions include high quality stream habitat which supports all five species of Alaskan salmon. The land also provides habitat for brown bear, moose and caribou, as well as nesting and breeding habitat for migratory waterfowl. The acreage is located in the designated Wilderness Area.

The Service acquired 545 acres at the Yukon Flats NWR that include high quality wetlands. This area also provides excellent moose habitat which is an important subsistence resource to the local residents.

New addition to the National Wildlife Refuge System:

State Unit Name Acres
Minnesota Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge 2,309