The open house will be held at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, located near Erskine, Minn., on July 12. Service representatives will be available from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the open house to provide information and answer questions.
Former Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District manager Rick Julian will oversee the public input process. Weve long recognized the restoration potential of land in this area, said Julian, noting that historically the area contained several hundred small wetlands and much native tallgrass prairie. Traditionally, this area has been poorly-drained and marginal as farmland. The establishment of a refuge could be an extraordinary benefit to wildlife and local residents.
The timing for such an establishment might never be better. The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a non-profit group, has announced its intent to purchase 24,000 acres in the area, commonly known as the Tilden Farms property, which includes over 5,000 acres of native prairie. The Service and TNC frequently work together to protect and restore areas of significant wildlife habitat. We have had some informal discussions with TNC about the Tilden Farms property@they know we would be interested in working with them should they actually purchase such a large tract, said Julian, who indicated he would also be contacting other local landowners to gauge their support for establishment of the refuge.
At this point Id like to explore a number of options for managing the available land in this area. Maybe establishing a National Wildlife Refuge isnt the route to go, but now is a good time to take a close look at the opportunities, he said.
Land acquisitions made for the National Wildlife Refuge System, which now includes over 520 refuges nationwide, are accomplished through purchases of land at fair market value from willing sellers. The Service also uses easements and other cooperative agreements to manage wildlife lands. Although managed primarily for wildlife and wildlife-dependent recreational activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, communities near refuges typically also benefit from better water quality, increased flood control, increased property values and an economic boost from increased tourism.
Julian acknowledged sometimes there are concerns about Service land purchases and the establishment of wildlife refuges. Property tax payments and drainage restrictions are often cited. The relationship between every Service property and the local community is unique, he said. But in the end, were almost always able to come to some resolution on the issues. Im inviting anyone with these types of concerns to give me a call or come to one of our public meetings.
Adds Julian, Im very excited about the wildlife and recreational potential of the land in this area. The large Tilden Farms acreage and related tracts have tremendous potential to be restored to the wildlife havens they once were.
The July 12 meeting at Rydell NWR is only the first in a series of public meetings. In addition to public meetings, Julian also expects to meet with local elected officials, community groups and other community leaders to share information and receive their input. For more information, contact Rick Julian directly at (218) 687-2229.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Services manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System of more than 520 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our Home Page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
