The workshops will give participants an opportunity to be "managers for a day," sorting through the variety of issues confronting Refuge managers and developing recommendations for addressing these issues. Workshops will also give Refuge staff members an opportunity to present the concerns they see facing the Refuge and seek public input on management issues. Participants will be involved in clarifying issues and developing recommendations in both small-group sessions and full group sessions throughout the day.
The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Complex includes three refuges and one proposed refuge: Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, which has districts in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois; Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin; Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa; and the proposed Lost Mound National Wildlife Refuge in Illinois.
Recommendations developed in the workshops will be considered as Refuge staff begins developing management alternatives that will be evaluated in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Preparation of the EIS is part of the process of developing a 15-year comprehensive conservation plan for each of the three established refuges.
Workshops for the districts of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, Jan. 4, 2003, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Prairie du Chien High School, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
- Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at House of Events, 108 Main Street, Savanna, Ill.
- Saturday, March 8, 2003, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Winona Middle School, Winona, Minn.
- Saturday, March 22, 2003, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Eagle Bluff Elementary School, 200 Eagle Bluff Court in Onalaska, Wis.
A workshop focusing on Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at the Trempealeau Middle School in Trempealeau, Wisconsin.
A workshop focusing on Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge is scheduled Thursday, February 20, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Central State Bank in Elkader, Iowa.
Workshops will focus on issues within three major themes that surfaced during the first round of public meetings and internal discussions, including "closed area" use and management; recreational uses, including traditional uses such as hunting, fishing, camping and boating as well as hunting blinds, dogs and beaches; and habitat concerns, including invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , pool management, and reducing off-refuge impacts.
The workshops are open to the public. However, the Service is asking that participants plan to attend for the full day. Anyone planning to attend is asked to inform the Refuge Office at least seven days prior to the workshop of their choice. Please call the Refuge Office toll free at 1-888/291-5719 and leave a message stating which workshop you plan to attend. Area organizations are urged to send representatives to the workshops who can represent their groups interest or concern. Lunches will be available on site for a reasonable cost, or, participants may bring their own.
Information on the planning process for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Complex is available at http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/uppermisstop.htm
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 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 programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, visit our website at http://midwest.fws.gov
