Horicon Refuge Auto Tour and Walking Trails Complex off Hwy 49 to be Temporarily Closed to All Public Access Starting June 3, 2019 for Road Repaving and Improvement Project
Beginning Monday June 3, 2019 the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Auto Tour and Walking Trails Complex will be temporarily closed to all public access due to a road repaving and improvement project. The recreational area, located about 3 miles east of Waupun, will be undergoing significant construction and will not be accessible to hikers, bicyclists or vehicles for most of the summer months. Old Marsh Road will be open during June through August for hiking and bicycling (no vehicles) but visitors will need to park and access that interior road from the east side of the marsh (Cty Rd Z to Point Rd.) only. Other public use areas on the refuge such as Main Dike Road near Mayville, Hwy 49 Viewing Area near Cty Rd Z, and Bud Cook Hiking Trails off Point Rd. will be open as usual. Please visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Horicon/ for maps and directions.
Alternative opportunities for nearby hiking and bicycling include Marsh Haven Nature Center http://marshhaven.org/ and the Wild Goose State Trail, parking lot north of Hwy 49 – Fond du Lac County. https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/wildgoose/ .
In addition to repaving, the auto tour will also be widened in several locations to improve opportunities for wildlife viewing and to improve traffic flow. The project is expected to be completed before the fall bird migration in October.
Spring migration is well underway. Species to look for include: mallards, Canada geese, coots, American white pelicans, Forster's terns, great blue herons, northern shovelers, ruddy ducks and many species of shorebirds.
Waterbird Survey - Horicon NWR
The Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Green Bay, Gravel Island, Horicon, and Fox River National Wildlife Refuges) is proposing to allow Research, Scientific Collecting and Surveys by Third Parties to occur on the refuges. We are seeking public comment on allowing this use on the refuges. You are invited to review the draft compatibility determination document that includes our justification and analysis. This use has previously been allowed to occur on the refuge and through this process we are expanding opportunities for research, scientific collection, and surveys conducted by non-Service entities to contribute to the enhancement, protection, use, preservation, and management of wildlife populations and their habitats. These uses also help fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the purposes of the refuge. The document is available May 15th through May 30th. Comments may be provided to David_Bolin@fws.gov or by phone 920-387-2658.
Draft Compatibility Determination Research, Scientific Collecting and Surveys by Third Parties