Audubon Wetland Management District

Waterfowl Production Areas have been purchased by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) with funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. Established to protect and restore waterfowl habitat, nearly 95 percent of Waterfowl Production Areas in the United States are located in the Prairie Pothole Region of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and northeastern Montana. Approximately 98 cents of each Duck Stamp dollar is used to purchase habitat.  

Wildlife dependent recreational activities are allowed on Waterfowl Production Areas, including hunting, fishing, trapping, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. 

Eight National Wildlife Refuges are located in the Audubon Wetland Management District. A portion of these refuges are owned in fee title by the Service and others are easement refuges. Easement refuges are private lands in which the Service has purchased and regulates water rights.    

Prescribed Burning 

Controlled burns are often called prescribed burns because wildlife managers write a careful prescription of the weather conditions, equipment, and people necessary to safely conduct a burn that will have the desired ecological effect. Fire is used to help wildlife and wildlife habitat by stimulating prairie plant growth, increasing soil nutrients, and setting back the invading trees and other species not adapted to life on the prairie.   

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Prairie animals are also adapted to fire. Some go underground during the fire. Others simply fly or run away from the fire. Sometimes, birds lose their nests to fire, but native grassland species have an adaptation for this: they quickly respond by building a new nest and laying a new clutch of eggs. While there is some short-term harm to some nests or animals, these same species depend on fire for their survival, since many prairie plants and animals cannot survive long, once shrubs or trees take over their grassland habitat.  

Rotational Livestock Grazing

Wildlife managers work together with local ranchers to mimic natural disturbances that were once caused by large herds of free-ranging bison and elk on the prairie. Through livestock grazing, invasive cool-season grasses and other invasive plants can be stressed, which favors native grasses and forbs such as western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, blue grama, little bluestem, purple coneflowers, goldenrods and low growing shrubs. Grazing can greatly influence the structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.

Learn more about structure and diversity of grassland communities.

Water Level Management

Water levels on wetlands are carefully monitored and controlled with water control structures to foster desired plant growth. Management objectives focus on providing habitat and food for nesting, rearing, and migrating birds. An especially important plant, sago pondweed, provides shoots and tubers as a food source for birds. The invertebrates these plants support are also an important food source for waterfowl, shorebirds, and many other wildlife species, especially when nurturing broods.

Invasive Species Control

Invasive species are plants and animals that are not native to an area, and can cause economic or environmental harm. One of the largest threats to public lands in the United States, next to habitat loss, is the invasion of invasive plant and animal species. If left unchecked, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species can alter habitat and water quality.

Wildlife managers use livestock grazing, burning, chemical application and insects to control invasive plants such as smooth brome grass, Kentucky bluegrass, Canada thistle, absinth wormwood, leafy spurge, Russian olive and Siberian elm trees.

Staff deploy a host of scientifically sound management tools to address biological challenges. These tools span active water management to wilderness character monitoring, all aimed at ensuring a balanced conservation approach to benefit both wildlife and people.  At this field station, our conservation toolbox includes:

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• Planning – Comprehensive Conservation Plan
• Compatibility Determinations
• Cultural Resources
• Education & Outreach
• Fire Management
• Grazing
• Invasive Species
• Inventory and Monitoring
• Law Enforcement
• Pesticide Management
• Recreation Management
• Species Research
• Water Management