From May 16 to June 23, the refuge will host a series of public information meetings and workshops at select communities that border the refuge to inform refuge neighbors, visitors and interested groups about the numerous issues and management alternatives presented in the Plan. The Plan will guide management of the refuge for the next 15 years.

Public information meetings will include an open house segment, a presentation of key issues and alternatives being considered, and a question and answer session. The public workshops will use a small group format for discussion of alternatives and group reporting of ideas and concerns. Special topic public meetings will be scheduled as needed during the 120-day comment period. Alternatives being considered in the draft Plan include ?no action,? a ?wildlife? focus, a ?public use? focus, and ?wildlife with integrated public use? focus.

?The draft plan is an important step in the planning process that began nearly three years ago with public involvement that helped us to identify issues and public concerns for the refuge,? said Refuge Manager Don Hultman. ?We will continue to involve the public and other agencies as we move closer to deciding on a management alternative that benefits wildlife and provides for quality experiences for the millions of people who visit the refuge each year.?

Dates and locations of public information meetings and workshops are listed below. Information meetings begin with an open house from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m. Workshops begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude at 9 p.m.

Date, location and type of meeting are as follows: May 16 Clinton Community College, Clinton, Iowa, Information Meeting; May 17, House of Events, Savanna, Ill., Information Meeting; May 18, Grand River Center, Dubuque, Iowa, Information Meeting; May 19, Prairie du Chien High School, Prairie du Chien, Wis., Information Meeting; May 23, Kurnt Bros. Community Room, Lansing, Iowa, Information Meeting; May 24, American Legion Post 315, Stoddard, Wis.,Information Meeting; May 25, American Legion Club Room, La Crescent, Minn.,Information Meeting; May 26,Eagle Bluff Elementary School, Onalaska, Wis., Information Meeting; May 31, Winona Middle School, Winona, Minn.,Information Meeting; June 1, Wabasha-Kellogg High School, Wabasha, Minn.,Information Meeting; June 13 Winona Middle School, Winona, Minn., Workshop; June 14, Wabasha-Kellogg High School, Wabasha, Minn.,Workshop June 16 Prairie du Chien High School, Prairie du Chien, Wis., Workshop; June 21, House of Events, (108 Main St.) Savanna, Ill., Workshop; June 22,American Legion Post 315, Stoddard, Wis.,Workshop; June 23, Onalaska Middle School, Onalaska, Wis., Workshop.

An Executive Summary of the draft Plan has been mailed to nearly 3,000 citizens and organizations that expressed an interest during earlier public involvement. Additional copies of the summary can be requested by calling the refuge headquarters toll free 1-888-291-5719 or 507-452-4232 within the 507 area code. The complete draft Plan and a summary can be viewed on the Internet at the Service's Planning Website: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/ The draft Plan can also be viewed at 52 public libraries in communities near the refuge, or at refuge district offices in Savanna, Ill.; McGregor, Iowa; La Crosse, Wis.; and Winona, Minn. Written comments on the draft Plan will be accepted by the Service until August 31, 2005, at the following address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: CCP Comment, Room 101, 51 East Fourth Street, Winona, MN 55987.

With more than 3 million visitors per year, the ?Upper Miss? Refuge is the most visited refuge in the country and has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 130 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.