The meeting focused on the alternatives being considered to address challenging management issues facing the refuge, and included an in-house, working-draft plan laying out a refuge vision, goals, and measurable objectives. Alternatives being considered include no action, a wildlife focus, a public use focus, and a wildlife with integrated public use focus.

?Information discussed at the meeting was a culmination of what we heard at numerous public meetings and workshops, and represents an incredible amount of critical thinking in addressing the needs of wildlife and people on these refuges," said Don Hultman, manager of the Upper Mississippi refuges complex. "Since the states and the Corps are special management partners, we need to have their input on the alternatives we are contemplating prior to finishing a draft plan for public review."

The in-house plan articulates a vision for the refuge that, ?is beautiful, healthy and supports abundant and diverse native fish, wildlife and plants for the enjoyment and thoughtful use of current and future generations.? It also lists six goals: ? Maintain and improve the scenic qualities and wild character of the refuge. ? Improve environmental health of the refuge by working with others. ? Manage habitat to support diverse and abundant native fish, wildlife and plants. ? Ensure high quality and sustainable hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and environmental education opportunities for a broad cross section of the public. ? Provide opportunities for traditional non-wildlife dependent recreation (camping and beach use) that is appropriate and compatible with the purpose for which the refuge was established. ? Have adequate resources, public awareness and support to implement the vision and accomplish refuge goals and objectives.

Hultman said he hopes to have a draft CCP published this spring. The public will then be able to see plans in detail and provide written comments on them. During the summer months, the refuge will host a series of public meetings at select communities that border the refuge. Meeting locations and times will be announced through local news media and will also be posted to the refuge's CCP web page: http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/uppermisstop.htm. The web page also has information about the refuge complex and public involvement activities.

?We still have a long way to go before our actual plan is drafted, ?Hultman said. ?We will continue to involve the public in shaping a plan that benefits wildlife and provides for quality experiences for the millions of people who visit these refuges each year.?

In 1997, Congress mandated all national wildlife refuges complete a CCP every 15 years. The last Master Plan for the Upper Miss refuge was completed in 1987. Public involvement on the CCP began in August 2002 with a series of 12 open house style meetings at river communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. The meetings included facilitated session in which participants described and prioritized issues that should be addressed in the CCP. Seven ?Manager for a Day? workshops were held in the spring of 2003 to give citizens an opportunity to voice their ideas on how to manage the refuge. In September 2003, a waterfowl hunting meeting was held in Onalaska, Wis.

The ?Upper Miss? Refuge Complex includes the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois; Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, and Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. At 261 miles long, the refuge is the longest contiguous refuge in the United States, stretching from Wabasha, Minn., to Rock Island, Ill. The refuge is divided into four districts, the Savanna District in northwest Illinois, the Winona District in southeast Minnesota, McGregor District in northeast Iowa, and the La Crosse District in southwest Wisconsin.

The 242,000-acre refuge includes broad pools, islands, braided channels, extensive bottomland forest, floodplain marshes and occasional sand prairie. With 3 million visitors per year, it is the most visited and used refuge in the country, and has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 12 locks and dams, within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 305 species of birds; 134 species of fish; more than 100 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.