About Us

J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District is located in north‑central North Dakota and encompasses approximately 8,354 square miles across Renville, Bottineau, Rolette, McHenry, Pierce, and Ward counties. Within this district, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages a diverse portfolio of conservation lands, including 34,403 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas, 134,008 acres of wetland easements, 98,706 acres of grassland easements, 18,371 acres of Farmers Home Administration conservation easements, and 8,062 acres of easement refuges. The District administers these lands to protect and restore essential wetlands and prairie habitats for waterfowl and other wildlife.

Although Waterfowl Production Areas, easements, and national wildlife refuges make up less than two percent of the landscape in the Prairie Pothole Region states, they produce nearly twenty‑three percent of the area’s waterfowl. This is why voluntary partnerships with private landowners are vital; working together to conserve grasslands and wetlands helps sustain healthy waterfowl populations across the region.

Nearly 800,000 people visit Waterfowl Production Areas each year.  By law, these areas are open to hunting, fishing, and trapping in accordance with State regulations. Other wildlife‑dependent uses—including wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education—are also permitted and encouraged.

Our Mission

Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to fulfill a statutory purpose aimed at conserving native species that rely on its lands and waters. Waterfowl Production Areas became part of the National Wildlife Refuge System beginning in 1966 through the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act. All activities on Waterfowl Production Areas are evaluated for compatibility with this purpose. These areas protect and enhance wetlands and grasslands that are essential for migratory birds, waterfowl production, and resident wildlife.

Our History

The District operates alongside J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1935 and lies within the former lakebed of glacial Lake Souris. Retreating glaciers shaped the rolling hills and temporary wetlands characteristic of the current landscape. The lands that encompass the Refuge and District were historically used by the Arikara, Assiniboine, Cheyenne, Hidatsa, Lakota, and Mandan tribes.

J. Clark Salyer Wetland Management District was named in honor of John Clark Salyer II, former Chief of the Division of Wildlife Refuges for the Bureau of Biological Survey from 1934 to 1961. Widely regarded as the “Father of the National Wildlife Refuge System,” Salyer guided the system through a period of extraordinary growth—from 1.5 million acres in the mid‑1930s to nearly 29 million acres by the time of his retirement. His legacy continues to shape wildlife conservation throughout North Dakota and across the nation.