Big Stone Wetland Management District

The specific purpose of this district is to expand the FWS effort to acquire and manage Waterfowl Production Areas (WPA) in Lincoln and Lyon Counties. In addition to WPA acquisition, private land resource interests are served through involvement with Department of Agriculture programs in a technical assistance role and also through Service wetland restoration projects on private lands. Currently there are six WPAs, two FmHA conservation easements, and four wetland or habitat protection easements totaling 1,748 acres in these two counties. The area remains a critical waterfowl breeding and migration space and offers great potential for a large number of resource protection/enhancement projects within several watersheds entering into the Minnesota River.

Visitor Opportunities
All WPAs are open year-round to hiking, birdwatching, nature photography, and general wildlife observation. These areas are open to hunting of migratory birds, resident upland game, deer, and trapping in accordance with state seasons and regulations.

Accessibility
The National Wildlife Refuge System is working to ensure that facilities and programs are accessible to visitors. Please contact the refuge office for information about accessibility at this unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Management Programs
Most of these newly acquired WPAs are not at present fully developed.

As WPAs are acquired, wetland restorations by ditch plug or tile breaks will be done. Uplands that are in crop production will or have been eliminated and mixtures of warm season native grass nesting cover are planted. Prescribed burning will be used to maintain these restored grasslands as well as any native prairie that is acquired. Where practical and livestock operations are nearby, grazing as a management tool will be used. Chemical, mechanical, and biological control of noxious weeds are accomplished each year.

Some farming may be implemented when management plans for each unit identify the need and suitability for food plots. Otherwise, farming is used as a short-term practice to prepare land for seeding and nesting cover establishment.

Directions
The Fish and Wildlife Service field station administering these lands in Lyon and Lincoln Counties is located at the Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge office approximately eight miles east of Ortonville, MN, and one-half mile west of Odessa, MN. From Highway 7/75 take Big Stone County Road #19 south approximately three quarters of a mile.