About Us
Established in 1961, Lostwood Wetland Management District (WMD) manages a network of Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and wetland and grassland easements across the Northern Coteau region of northwestern North Dakota. This landscape of rolling hills and abundant wetlands is a legacy of glacial activity that shaped the region thousands of years ago. Today, the District plays a vital role in conserving wildlife habitat within the Prairie Pothole Region—one of the most important waterfowl breeding and migration areas in North America.
The Landscape
The Missouri Coteau, derived from the French term for “little hill,” formed when debris accumulated at the edge of advancing glaciers. Lostwood Wetland Management District lies within this glaciated landscape, which stretches from southeast Alberta to northwest Iowa. As the glaciers melted approximately 10,000 years ago, they left behind a ridge of rocks and soil ranging from 10 to 60 miles wide. Large blocks of ice buried in the glacial debris later melted, forming the thousands of wetland depressions—often more than 150 per square mile—that define the Coteau. These wetlands, combined with some of the largest remaining tracts of native northern mixed‑grass prairie in the United States, create the foundation of the District’s ecological richness.
Prior to European settlement, these lands were stewarded by Indigenous peoples. Today, six tribal nations remain throughout North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota, continuing longstanding cultural connections to prairie landscapes.
Wetlands
Wetlands within the District provide essential food, water, cover, and space for a wide variety of wildlife, while also offering opportunities for hunting, trapping, birdwatching, and quiet recreation. Beyond their habitat value, wetlands help moderate flooding by slowing runoff, recharge groundwater supplies, improve water quality by filtering sediments and nutrients, and may serve as water sources for livestock during dry periods.
Grasslands
The District’s grasslands support a diverse native plant community, including 700 plant species and over 100 native grasses found in this part of North Dakota. Northern mixed‑grass prairie blends elements of tallgrass, shortgrass, fescue, and sandhill prairie types, shaped by local temperature, moisture, soils, and topography.
These prairies provide critical nesting habitat for waterfowl such as northern pintails, mallards, blue‑winged teal, and northern shovelers, as well as many resident wildlife species. Grasslands also contribute economically by supporting livestock production and ecologically by storing atmospheric carbon within plants and soils, helping reduce greenhouse gases.
Our Mission
As part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Wetland Management Districts conserve an essential network of public and private wetlands and uplands that preserve historically important resting and breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl. All activities on these lands are reviewed to ensure they align with the conservation of native species and their habitats. This network benefits waterfowl, other migratory birds, resident wildlife, and threatened and endangered species.
Successful conservation depends on strong partnerships, adequate resources, and community support. Local communities and visitors value the District’s grasslands and marshes as integral components of a healthy prairie ecosystem, and current and future generations continue to enjoy wildlife‑dependent recreation on these lands.
Our History
The District was established in 1961, and WPAs within its boundaries were acquired through the Federal Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, which uses funds generated by Federal Duck Stamps to purchase habitat for migratory birds. In 1958, the Duck Stamp Act was amended to create the Small Wetland Acquisition Program (SWAP), expanding acquisition authority to include Waterfowl Production Areas—ensuring protection of the Prairie Pothole Region’s vital breeding and resting habitat.