About Us
The 629 acre Michigan Wetland Management District is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These lands were put aside using the Waterfowl Production Area Program which was authorized by Congress in 1958 by an amendment to the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. Since its initiation in 1961 it has been preserving natural wetlands that were rapidly being destroyed nationwide by agricultural drainage, housing development and other commercial land use practices.
Waterfowl production areas are comprised of small natural wetlands and grasslands that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for millions of waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife.
In 1980, with approval from then Governor Milliken and the support of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through a Memorandum of Understanding announced it was proposing to acquire up to 30,000 acres of wetlands in a 14 county area of south-central Michigan under the Waterfowl Production Area Program. The counties include Kent, Ionia, Barry, Eaton, Ingham, Livingston, Van Buren, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Jackson, Cass, Saint Joseph, Branch and Hillsdale.
In 2004, the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies was renewed and resulted in the expansion of the wildlife production area acquisition area from the original 14 county wetland management district wetland management district
A wetland management district is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office that manages waterfowl production areas in one or more counties. Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service acquires waterfowl production areas under the authority of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, primarily using funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. The Refuge System’s 38 wetland management districts comprise thousands of waterfowl production areas – almost all in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains.
Learn more about wetland management district to include all or parts of 46 counties that lie within the primary focus areas of the North American Waterfowl Management Plans, regional landscape ecosystem areas for Michigan.
By 2020 Michigan Wetland Management District had five waterfowl production areas in three counties with plans to expand as funding and lands become available. Malan, Kinney, Schlee and Edger Waterfowl Production Areas are within the original 14 county wetland management district, while the Schnoover Waterfowl Production Area is located within the primary focus areas of the North American Waterfowl Management Plans regional landscape ecosystem areas for Michigan. All five waterfowl production areas in Michigan provide nesting, resting and brood rearing grounds for various waterfowl, shore and water birds, and other wildlife.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Wetland management districts manage waterfowl production areas which are purchased to preserve wetlands and grasslands needed by waterfowl and other wildlife. We manage the wetlands and grasslands to provide ducks and other wildlife a place to nest, rest and raise their young. The Small Wetlands Program was authorized by Congress in 1958 to preserve natural wetlands that were rapidly being destroyed by agricultural drainage, housing developments and other commercial land use practices.
All activities allowed on waterfowl production areas must be evaluated to make sure each activity will not conflict with the reason the refuge was founded.
Our History
1980 - Governor Milliken, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced an agreement which proposed the acquisition of up to 30,000 acres of wetlands in a 14 county area of south-central Michigan under the Waterfowl Production Area Program.
1981 - Schlee and Kinney Waterfowl Production Areas were acquired.
1991 - Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area was acquired from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dec. 6, 2004 - the Memorandum of Understanding between the two agencies was renewed and resulted in the expansion of the waterfowl production area waterfowl production area
Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands within the National Wildlife Refuge System that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for millions of waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. Virtually all waterfowl production areas are in the Prairie Pothole Region states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Learn more about waterfowl production area acquisition area from the original 14 county wetland management district wetland management district
A wetland management district is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office that manages waterfowl production areas in one or more counties. Waterfowl production areas are small natural wetlands and grasslands that provide breeding, resting and nesting habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds and other wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service acquires waterfowl production areas under the authority of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Act, primarily using funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. The Refuge System’s 38 wetland management districts comprise thousands of waterfowl production areas – almost all in the Prairie Pothole Region of the Northern Great Plains.
Learn more about wetland management district to include all or parts of 46 counties that lie within the primary focus areas of the North American Waterfowl Management Plans, regional landscape ecosystem areas for Michigan.
Sept. 1, 2006 - Malan Waterfowl Production Area was acquired through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.
Apr. 23, 2007 - Edger Waterfowl Production Area was acquired from the Edger family through a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Ducks Unlimited and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Michigan Wetland Management District is administered by Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge with management assistance provided by the Michigan Private Lands Office in East Lansing, Michigan.
Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge administers Malan, Kinney, Schlee and Edger Waterfowl Production Areas while Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge administers Schoonover Waterfowl Production Area.
