The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on the compatibility of a trail proposed by the City of Eden Prairie that would connect the Upgrala Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge with a trail from the city.
The 70 foot long by 10 foot wide trail would be constructed within the refuge’s Upgrala Unit, approximately five miles west of the tower at Flying Cloud Airport from U.S Highway 212 to Old Riverview Road. The proposed trail would connect to a trail from Eden Prairie under Highway 212 to Old River View Road to Pioneer Trail Road. A map of the proposed trail alignments is available at the refuge headquarters.
Comments received from the public will be used to make a determination on whether or not the proposed project is compatible with the short and long term goals of the refuge.
Written comments must be received by 4 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2005 and be addressed to the Refuge Manager, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, 3815 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, Minnesota 55425-1600. Comments can also be faxed to the refuge at 612-725-3279, or 952-854-5900 (V/TTY) or emailed to terry_schreiner@fws.gov
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 Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 542 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.
