Major achievements expected over the life of the plan include protecting coastal habitats, islands and other unique habitats, establishing a visitors? center, developing a network of refuge volunteers, and fostering partnerships to assist the refuge in achieving wildlife and habitat goals.

"The plan continues to embrace the spirit of public-private partnerships to conserve fish and wildlife resources in the Detroit River area, as well as provide for a future refuge headquarters and visitor center," said Refuge Manager John Hartig. "The Plan is an excellent road map to management of North America's only international wildlife refuge for the next 15 years."

The Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge was established by Public Law 107-91 on December 21, 2002. The refuge is the first international refuge in North America, and will conserve, protect and restore habitat for 29 species of waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish and 300 species of migratory birds along the lower Detroit River in Michigan and Canada. The authorized refuge boundary includes islands, coastal wetlands, marshes, shoals and shore lands along 48 miles of the Lower Detroit River and Lake Erie shoreline to the State of Ohio border.

The complete Plan and a summary can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/detroitriver/index.html. Paper copies of the Plan and/or compact disks are available in limited supply by making a request through the website or by calling toll free 1-800-247-1247. Copies of the Plan and a compact disk are also available for viewing at 14 libraries throughout the refuge area.