Projects and Research
Key Points
The Four‑Square‑Mile Survey collects on‑the‑ground observations and aerial imagery to improve waterfowl management and identify priority lands for protection.
The Native Prairie Adaptive Management program uses annual monitoring and tailored management actions—such as resting, fire, and grazing—to restore native prairie threatened by invasive grasses.
Both projects rely on shared data and collaborative learning across many refuges and districts, ensuring more effective, science‑driven conservation outcomes.
Four-Square-Mile Survey
The Four‑Square‑Mile Survey (FSMS) helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service understand how National Wildlife Refuge System lands support waterfowl during the breeding season in the Prairie Pothole Region.
Each year, more than 100 staff from 25 Wetland Management Districts survey selected wetlands within four‑square‑mile plots. They record waterfowl observations on the ground and collect aerial photos of each plot to measure how much water is present in wetland basins.
These observations are used to create tools that improve waterfowl management. One example is the “Thunderstorm Map,” which shows how easily nesting hens can access upland habitat. These tools guide decisions about where to protect land through Waterfowl Production Areas or conservation easements.
Native Prairie Adaptive Management
The Native Prairie Adaptive Management (NPAM) program was designed to help address the loss of native prairie caused by invasive, cool‑season grasses. Each year, around 120 prairie units across four Northern Great Plains states take part in the program.
Every enrolled prairie receives a yearly management recommendation based on its current condition. Management strategies may include resting the land, prescribed burning, grazing, or a combination of fire and grazing.
After these actions are completed, staff conduct vegetation surveys to see how the prairie responded. The results help refine the NPAM framework and improve future recommendations.
By combining consistent monitoring with shared learning across all participating sites, NPAM supports science‑based restoration and long‑term health of native prairie habitats.