Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District

c/o Minnesota Valley NWR
3815 East 80th Street
Bloomington, MN 55425-1600
Phone (612) 854-5900
Fax (612) 725-3279
TDD (612) 854-5900 (TDD)
E-mail r3rw_mnv@fws.gov

The Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District includes portions of the Minnesota, Cannon, and Mississippi River watersheds. Pre-settlement habitat included prairie pothole, native prairie, oak savannah, and big woods habitats.

The major breeding species of waterfowl in the district are mallards, blue winged teal, and wood ducks. Breeding by redheads, ruddy ducks, and gadwalls has also been confirmed.

Visitor Opportunities

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.

All WPAs are open year round to hiking, bird watching, 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.

Management Programs
Habitat management consists of optimizing the Waterfowl Production Areas to provide for nesting and migrating waterfowl. Maintaining diverse, healthy grasslands adjacent to wetland complexes interspersed with emergent vegetation, is the main focus. This is accomplished by several management tools: wetland and grassland restoration, prescribed burning, and pest plant control. Both on the waterfowl production areas and on private lands via the Partners for Wildlife program, previously drained areas and/or croplands are restored to wetlands and planted to warm season grasses. Grassland maintenance is required by fire management plans and mowing of pest plants to optimize preferred vegetative vigor. Waterfowl populations are monitored on both refuge lands and private lands each spring by conducting breeding pair counts. Nongame species of grassland birds are also being monitored for abundance and diversity.

Directions
The Refuge Office and Visitor Center are located just off of 34th Avenue in Bloomington, Minnesota, across the street from the Airport Hilton. From I-494, visitors should take the 34th Avenue exit south to East 80th Street. Turn left on East 80th Street and proceed east/northeast for 1/4 mile to the Visitor Center entrance on the right.