Upper Mississippi River Refuge Complex to Prepare Comprehensive Conservation Plan

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today that it will be preparing a comprehensive conservation plan and associated environmental impact statement for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Complex. The Refuge Complex includes the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge districts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois; the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, and the Driftless National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan will guide management decisions on the Refuge Complex for the next 15 years.

Beginning this fall, the Service will solicit information from the public via public meetings, workshops, focus groups, and written comments. Special mailings, newspaper articles, radio announcements, and the Services web site ( http://midwest.fws.gov">) will inform people of the times and places of public involvement opportunities.

The Service is currently working on a public involvement plan to ensure inclusive public involvement in the preparation of its refuge plan. "Each year over 3 million people visit the Upper Mississippi River Refuge,