Folks near Wapello, Iowa celebrated the grand opening of the new headquarters and visitor contact station at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. Refuge staff and Friends of Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge welcomed community members for the open house celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony on October 16, 2014.
Regional Director Tom Melius and several regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff who supported this project with expertise and energy were also on hand to herald this completion of the project.
“Facilities like this are the crossroads of conservation, a place where citizen scientists, nature enthusiasts, our partner organizations all come together,” said Melius.
“I couldn’t think of a more fitting time to mark this occasion than during national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge week and I would like to thank everyone who made this project such a success,” continued Melius.
This facility, better known to the local community as the visitor center, will provide the public with a more welcoming place with interpretive information, as well as space for programs and meetings. It will act as a gateway that will orient people and get them out on the refuge itself.
The gold LEED certification will save on operational costs and sets an example of what an environmentally friendly building can look like on the Iowan landscape. Some of the LEED components include a geothermal heating / cooling system, solar-powered hot water, and a photovoltaic system that provides a portion of the electricity. The facility also boasts low water usage toilets, rain gardens and native landscaping.
The sunny, fall weather made for a beautiful backdrop as festivities around the new facility continued through the day and into the evening. Also on hand for a special milkweed seed cleaning effort were fifth grade students from Columbus Junction Elementary School.
Together with refuge staff and Regional Director Melius, students cleaned five pounds of seed. This seed will be planted on the refuge to provide more habitat for monarchs. It will also be used as an educational opportunity for local school to learn about plant propagation later this spring. Refuge staff will continue collaborative efforts with Louisa County Conservation on this and other monarch conservation programs.
Learn more about Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge by visiting us online: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/port_louisa/
