Windom Wetland Management District

The Windom Wetland Management District acquires and manages waterfowl production areas, enforces wetland easements and provides conservation assistance to landowners in 12 southwestern Minnesota counties.

The landscape is dominated by intense, row crop agriculture that has led to the drainage of most wetlands and widespread water quality problems. Deteriorating tile systems and the abundance of historic basins provide unlimited opportunities for wetland restorations.

Heron Lake, was once known as the "Chesapeake Bay of the Midwest" because of its tremendous canvasback migrations. This 6,400-acre shallow prairie lake suffers from hypereutrophication, rough fish and loss of aquatic vegetation—symptoms typical to area lakes. Heron Lake is the focus of a multi-partner effort to restore the lake and its 474-square-mile watershed.

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. Non-game species of grassland birds are also being monitored for abundance and diversity.

Directions
The District Office is located 1.5 miles south of Windom, Minnesota, on Highway 71.

Rt. 1, Box 273A
Windom, MN 56101
Phone (507) 831-2220
Fax (507) 831-5524
TDD
E-mail steve_kallin@fws.gov