Chase Lake Wetland Management District is located in the famous "Prairie Pothole Region," an area with many small wetlands and a key area for breeding waterfowl in North America. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the District helps protect more than 140,00 acres of wetland and grassland habitat in North Dakota, benefitting numerous species of migratory birds and resident wildlife.
Two Items Currently Open for Public Comment

Item One:

A Draft Compatibility Determination for Farming, Grazing, and Haying on Chase Lake Wetland Management District is open for public comment from February 15-29, 2024. For additional information or to comment please contact District Manager, Stacy Whipp at 701-285-3341 ext 103 or by email at stacy_whipp@fws.gov

Item Two:

This Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for grassland and wetland easement crossings within the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project has been prepared by the United States Department of the Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6, and the Mountain-Prairie Region Audubon Wetland Management District to evaluate the effects associated with the proposed action. The Draft EA complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in accordance with Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 1500– 1508) and U.S. Department of the Interior (43 CFR 46; 516 DM 8) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (550 FW 3) regulations and policies. NEPA requires an examination of the effects of proposed actions on the natural and human environment. Comments can be provided by email to kathy_baer@fws.gov through March 30, 2024. 

Visit Us

The District includes 136 waterfowl production areas, totaling 44,000 acres. Waterfowl production areas provide both the grasslands and wetlands needed by waterfowl for breeding, nesting, and rearing broods. The waterfowl production areas also provide high quality opportunities for visitors to enjoy hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, and photography. 

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      Chase Lake Wetland Management District is dedicated to the conservation and management of both wetland and upland habitats essential to migratory birds. U.S. Fish and Wildlife manages habitat on Service-owned waterfowl production areas. WPAs are open to the public. In addition, the District protects more than 95,000 acres of wetland and grassland habitats protected through various private land easement programs. 

      What We Do

      U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees use a variety of tools and tactics to manage for healthy wetland and grassland habitats on Service-owned lands. The habitat management tools include prescribed burning, mowing, grazing, and leaving the land idle for a period of time. Staff also work with private landowners who have easements on their lands to ensure the wetland and grassland easements remain intact and provide habitat for the species that migrate through and reside in the area.

      Our Species

      Famous for their role in conserving waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's wetland management districts are an ecological treasure for waterfowl, other migratory birds, and resident wildlife.