The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft Fire Management Plan for Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge located near Crookston, Minnesota. Once approved, the plan will direct the use of fire for managing habitats and responding to wildfires on the refuge for the next five years.
The public will be able to view and comment on the draft fire plan during an open house Jan. 18, 2006 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, 17788 349th Street SE, Erskine, Minnesota.
The draft Fire Management Plan follows recommendations established in the approved Environmental Assessment and Interim Comprehensive Conservation Plan written for the acquisition of the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in April 2001. The draft plan is available on the Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fire/ and at the Crookston Public Library, 110 North Ash in Crookston, Minn., Printed copies can also be obtained by calling Rydell National Wildlife Refuge at 218-687-2229; by faxing a request to 218-687-2225; or by writing to Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, 17788 349th Street, SE, Erskine, MN 56535. Written comments on the FMP can be mailed to Dave Bennett at Rydell National Wildlife Refuge, faxed the fax number above, or sent via e-mail to dave_bennett@fws.gov. Comments should be received by the Refuge by the close of business February 9, 2006.
Established in October 2004, the Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is located in Polk County in northwestern Minnesota, approximately 10 miles east of Crookston along U.S. Highway 2.
Currently, the Refuge encompasses three parcels of land totaling approximately 2,300 acres. The approved acquisition boundary of the Glacial Ridge NWR comprises 35,750 acres. As additional lands are added to the Glacial Ridge NWR, this plan will be implemented on those lands. Glacial Ridge NWR operations are managed by Rydell NWR in nearby Erskine.
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 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 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 Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
