About Us
The Sand Lake Wetland Management District was created in 1961 to manage approximately 45,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas in 8 north central counties of South Dakota. Waterfowl Production Areas are lands purchased by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. Established to protect and restore waterfowl habitat, nearly 95% of WPAs are located in the Prairie Pothole Region of the northern Great Plains. District staff apply rotational grazing, haying, seeding, and prescribed burning practices to maintain and improve grasslands for nesting birds. In addition to Waterfowl Production Areas, the Sand Lake Wetland Management District also manages over 700,000 acres of easement lands. Wetland and grassland easements are legal agreements through which the Service pays landowners to permanently protect wetlands and grass. The Sand Lake Wetland Management District is the largest in the country.
Our Mission
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to serve a statutory purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and waters. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this statutory purpose.
Our History
The Sand Lake Wetland Management District was created in 1961 to manage approximately 45,000 acres of Waterfowl Production Areas in 8 north central counties of South Dakota. Waterfowl Production Areas are lands purchased by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service with funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps.
