Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Looking west over the Mississippi River from an overlook within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Map showing the location of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Map showing the location of Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Map of the United States
LocationIllinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, United States
Nearest cityDubuque, Iowa
Coordinates42°53′00″N 91°06′00″W / 42.88333°N 91.10000°W / 42.88333; -91.10000
Area240,000 acres (970 km2)
Established1924
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WebsiteUpper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Official nameUpper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands
Designated1 May 2010
Reference no.1901[1]

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is a 240,000-acre (970 km2),[2] 261-mile long (420 km) National Wildlife Refuge located in and along the Upper Mississippi River. It runs from Wabasha, Minnesota in the north to Rock Island, Illinois in the south.

(United States Fish and Wildlife Service)

In its northern portion, it is in the Driftless Area, a region of North America that remained free from ice during the last ice age. Certain parcels contained within the refuge were later transferred to the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge.

The refuge is an important element of the Mississippi Flyway. It has many wooded islands, sloughs, and hardwood forests. The wildlife found here include the canvasback duck, tundra swan, white-tailed deer, and muskrat. Recreational activities include boating, hunting, fishing, and swimming.

Refuge Headquarters are located in Winona, Minnesota, with district offices located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and Thomson, Illinois.

Geography

The refuge is one of only two that spans portions of four states (the other is Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge). As of 30 September 2007 the area per state was: Wisconsin: 89,637.54 acres (362.75 km2), Iowa: 51,147.78 acres (206.99 km2), Minnesota: 33,868.64 acres (137.06 km2), Illinois: 33,489.57 acres (135.53 km2).[3]

The area is only separated from the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge by a railroad line. The protected areas White Dam Wildlife Area, Thorpe Wildlife Management Area, Goose Island County Park, Dorer State Forest, Perrot State Park, Van Loon Wildlife Area, Great River Bluffs State Park, Pool Slough Wildlife Management Area, Blackhawk Point Wildlife Management Area, Fish Farm Mounds Wildlife Management Area, Lansing Wildlife Management Area, Rush Creek Natural Area, Effigy Mounds National Monument and Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge also border the Refuge directly or only from roads.

The following counties border on or have land within the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. In each state, the counties are listed from north to south. The lakes and rivers within the refuge area of each county are also listed.

Minnesota

Wisconsin

Paddling the Mississippi River
Sign

Iowa

Illinois

See also

References

  1. ^ "Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge, Retrieved July 15, 2007
  3. ^ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "National Wildlife Refuge System".

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

External links

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Protected areas of Illinois
Protected areas of Iowa
Protected areas of Minnesota
Protected areas of Wisconsin
National Wildlife Refuges of the United States
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