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Welcome to Region 6
The Mountain-Prairie Region consists of 8 states in the heart of the American west including Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a long tradition of scientific excellence and always uses the best-available science to inform its work to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitat for the benefit of the American public.
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National Wildlife Refuges
Where Wildlife Comes First
Created in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, today's National Wildlife Refuge System protects habitats and wildlife across the country, from the Alaskan tundra to subtropical wetlands. Managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Refuge System's 560-plus refuges cover more than 150 million acres and protect nearly 1,400 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
While national wildlife refuges were created to protect wildlife, they are for people too. Refuges are ideal places for people of all ages to explore and connect with the natural world. We invite you to learn more about and visit the national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
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Ecological Services
The Mountain-Prairie Region's Office of Ecological Services (ES) works to restore and protect healthy populations of fish, wildlife, and plants and the environments upon which they depend. Using the best available science, ES personnel work with Federal, State, Tribal, local, and non-profit stakeholders, as well as private land owners, to avoid, minimize, and mitigate threats to our Nation's natural resources.
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Providing leadership in the conservation of migratory bird habitat through partnerships, grants, and outreach for present and future generations. The Migratory Bird Program is responsible for maintaining healthy migratory bird populations for the benefit of the American people.
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Fish and Aquatic Conservation
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program in the Mountain-Prairie Region helps conserve, protect, and enhance aquatic resources and provides economically valuable recreational fishing to anglers across the country. The program comprises 12 National Fish Hatcheries.
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Law enforcement is essential to virtually every aspect of wildlife conservation. The Office of Law Enforcement contributes to Service efforts to manage ecosystems, save endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, restore fisheries, combat invasive species, and promote international wildlife conservation.
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External Affairs
External Affairs staff in the Mountain-Prairie Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides support to the regional office and field stations to communicate and faciliate information about the Service's programs to the public, media, Congress, Tribes, partners, and other stakeholders in the 8-state region.
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Lakepoint Wetlands Restoration
Jump to a section: Natural resources restoration | Public documents, links and contacts | « Back to Contaminants
Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation, Salt Lake county, Utah North Zone Wetlands NRDA Settlement, Lakepoint Wetlands Restoration
Background: The North Zone Wetlands are located near a smelting, refinery and mill tailings impundment facility operated by Kennecott Utah Copper Corporation (KUCC), on a narrow strip of land between the north end of the Oquirrh Mountains and the south shore of the Great Salt Lake, west of Salt Lake City, Utah. (View the location map.) The wetlands are fed by a series of springs that are forced to the surface at the base of the Oquirrhs, and provide foraging and nesting habitat to a wide variety of shorebirds, waterfowl, terrestrial birds, and other wildlife species. Mining operations in the area (known as the “North End”) first began in the early 1900’s and have included a wide variety of mineral processing operations including ore crushing and leaching, electrolytic refining and processing of ores, and numerous storage units for waste rock, tailings, slag and process water. Operations at the facility up through approximately the early 1990’s resulted in numerous and/or ongoing releases of hazardous substances including the metals selenium, copper, arsenic, lead, zinc, and cadmium into soils around the facility and directly or indirectly into a groundwater aquifer underlying the facility. These releases resulted in the contamination of the springs supplying the North Zone wetlands with these metals, resulting in injuries to natural resources including migratory birds and their supporting ecosystem. Of the metals, selenium was of the most concern to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) because of its mobility in water, bioaccumulation potential in both aquatic plants and invertebrates, and relatively high toxicity to birds. Under a series of voluntary cleanup agreements under the Comprehensive Emergency Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ), KUCC began remediation of the North Zone facilities in the mid-1990’s, completing cleanup at the North Zone Wetlands in 2003. Because of the importance of the North Zone wetlands to migratory birds, the Service was an active stakeholder in remedial decision-making at the site. As it became apparent that remedial actions would not fully address natural resource restoration in the North Zone Wetlands, the Service informed KUCC of its intention to pursue a Natural Resources Damage (NRD) claim for these injuries. In response, KUCC expressed their desire to participate in a cooperative NRD Assessment and NRD Settlement.
Natural resource restoration »
