On October 22, Dean Granholm, Wildlife Biologist and Thomas Larson, Chief, both from the Division of Conservation Planning, along with Jon Kauffeld, Refuge Supervisor, traveled to Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge to join with the Refuge staff and launch the Comprehensive Conservation Planning process.

The group spent four days touring Refuge lands, identifying planning issues, and developing a vision statement and goals.

The group also agreed to a planning schedule that projects the duration of each planning phase and that would see the plan completed in approximately three years.