51 E. 4th St., Rm. 101
Winona, MN 55987
Phone (507)452-4232
Fax (507)452-0851
TDD
EMail jim_fisher@fws.gov

The Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge is located along 284 miles of the Mississippi River valley extending from the confluence of the Chippewa River near Wabasha, MN to near Rock Island, IL. The lands that make up the refuge lie in four states: MN, WI, IA, IL.

The Refuge is largely confined to the floodplain. The Refuge provides migratory habitat for a large percentage of the migratory birds in the Mississippi Flyway. Tundra swans and canvasback ducks use the Refuge as a resting and feeding area in the spring and fall.

The refuge maintains some 26 boat landings, although many are primitive and require upgrading for accessibility and rehabilitation after damaging floods of 1993 and 1997. However, access to the refuge is almost unlimited, due to in excess of 300 public boat landings and marinas. The refuge also maintains interpretive kiosks and interpretive signs at about sixty locations - at refuge access areas as well as at parks and waysides overlooking the refuge, including many at blufftop locations giving sweeping panoramic views of the refuge.

In recent years, the refuge has cooperated with local governments, sporting clubs, civic organizations, and volunteers to develop wildlife observation decks with interpretive signs at five locations. One deck, at Alma, WI was built on Corps of Engineers land which is managed as part of the refuge, using refuge funds to purchase materials, construction done by the city, signs provided by the refuge, and staffed during Tundra Swan migration by 30 volunteers. Last year "Alma Swan Watch" attracted over 10,000 visitors.

The refuge has four district offices. Two have small interpretive areas. It is hoped that we will eventually have more adequate interpretive facilities in all four districts.

The refuge is open year-round with no fees, except for trapping permits and fees associated with the Potter's Marsh waterfowl hunt.

Visitors are attracted to the refuge by the wide diversity of birds which migrate along the river corridor. Spectacular waterfowl migrations, including large numbers of tundra swans and canvasbacks; as well as raptors; bald eagles; neotropical migrants and shorebirds. Hugh rookeries of great blue herons and great egrets exist on the refuge as well as over 60 eagle nests. In recent years, summer has seen large populations of white pelicans and double-crested cormorants loafing on Upper Miss and Trempealeau refuges.