Swan Watch Self-Guided Tour Available

Because the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters annual swan watch bus tour will not be offered again in 2021, we have created a Swan Watch Self-Guided Tour to help you enjoy this tradition on your own. Peak migration is the second week of November. Click here to “take the tour.”

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Tree Planting at Weaver Landing

Mary Stefanski would like to share a few photos from the tree planting at Weaver on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. Thank you to everyone who was able to show up this morning and make really quick work of the nearly 70 trees and shrubs that needed to get in the ground. We couldn’t do it…

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Tree Planting Follow Up

We finally received the trees that we were hoping to plant last week. Tuesday morning (October 26th) is the best weather to get trees in the ground. We will meet at the Weaver Landing at 8:30am. Please let Mary Stefanski know if you are able to participate. Email: [email protected]

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Friends October Meeting

Friends and Volunteers, you are invited to participate in the next regular Friends meeting which will be held at the Refuge office, 102 Walnut Street, Suite 205 beginning at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 28th. This will be the last meeting until January 2022! The focus of this meeting will be to review three slide…

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Volunteers Needed and More Fun Stuff!

Friends and Volunteers, We are planning on receiving a shipment of 100 trees next week to plant at Halfmoon, Verchota, McNally, and Weaver Landings. We will work with the weather but hope to get them in the ground the week of October 18. These are larger trees that will come in containers so shovel/spade digging…

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Friends of the Refuge Headwaters September Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is Thursday, September 23 beginning at 4:15 p.m. The agenda for the meeting is attached as well as a photo to enhance the agenda item 4A. Thank you to former FORH President John Lyons for his assistance! The meeting will be held at the…

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Compatibility Determination Available for Public Review

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: Compatibility Determination, Transportation of Dredged Material, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.  A draft compatibility determination which evaluates the transportation of dredged material across lands and waters of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) is available for public comment.  The compatibility determination does not evaluate the act…

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Availability of Trapping Permits for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

In consideration of the on-going COVID 19 pandemic, in 2021, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) is offering both a remote and in-person opportunity for Refuge trappers to receive the required Special Use Permit (SUP) and trap tags. SUP applications and instructions are available on-line at www.fws.gov/refuge/Upper_Mississippi_River/trapping.html. Trappers who choose the…

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The good and the bad in backwater Shangri-La

Below is an article written by John Weiss. The good and the bad in backwater Shangri-La WEAVER — As I waited Monday morning to see how Weaver Bottoms fared this year, a time of near-record low flows, I thought of all the changes I’ve seen in it and wondered: which Weaver would I see today…

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New Photo Contest and Other Opportunities

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are again sponsoring a photo contest. Photos should be taken during the summer or fall time periods on either the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge or Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge. Entry deadline is December 3, 2021, full details can be found in the attached brochure. Visit the…

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