|
2008 Federal Duck Stamp Contest
Phone: 612-713-5360 |
Litchfield
Wetland Management District
Contacting the Office:District Manager: Scott Glup
Email: MidwestNews@fws.gov22274 615th Avenue
Litchfield, MN 55355
Phone: 320-693-2849
Fax: 320-693-2326TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)
The District office is located 3 miles south of Litchfield on 615th Avenue
District Facts
Established: 1978
Waterfowl Production Areas: 151 units totaling 34,332 acres
Easements: 501 totaling 11,969 acres
Counties in district: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Stearns, Todd and Wright
Financial Impact
100,000 visitors annually
FY 2006 Budget: $1.4 million
Natural History
Landscape dotted with thousands of small wetlands or “prairie potholes,” created by glaciers
Prior to settlement, this area was a paradise for waterfowl, prairie chickens, whooping cranes, bison, wolves and other prairie wildlife
Agriculture changes to the landscape included the loss of most native prairie and the drainage of over 70 percent of the small wetlands
The area remains a critical waterfowl production and migration area
District Objectives
Acquire, develop and manage habitat for waterfowl production and other migratory birds
Provide habitat for native plants and animals, especially endangered species
Assist private landowners with restoration of wetlands and grasslands
Provide wildlife-dependent recreation and education
Highlight
The District contains diverse native habitats, from native forest in the northeast to the tallgrass prairie in the south and west, with the transition zone in between.
Priorities
Improve and expand capability to establish and maintain high quality wildlife habitat by restoring cropland and low quality grasslands to native grasslands
Improve the quality of native grasslands through the increased planting of forbs and the removal of woody vegetation
Public Use Opportunities
Trapping
Hunting
Wildlife observation
Interpretation
Environmental education
Wildlife photography
