Winter on our Refuge Photo Contest – Call for Entries

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are encouraging all amateur photographers to get outside this winter and capture the beauty of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) for a winter photo contest. Photos in the following categories will be accepted until March 13, 2020: Scenic Views of the Refuge, Wildlife and…

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Commercial Fishing Guide Permit Process for 2020

In 2019, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) implemented its pilot year of the Commercial Fishing Guide Permit Program. The Refuge waived permit fees and offered a grace period to guides operating in 2019 to allow for a transition into this new program. The 2020 season will be fully enforced and…

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Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Honors Volunteers

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge (Refuge) Winona offices recently honored volunteers and their guests at a volunteer recognition event.  During 2019, over 100 volunteers contributed more than 1,300 hours of service representing over $32,000. Volunteer activities included assisting with the Refuge booth at community functions, biological surveys, youth fishing days, river…

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Waterfowl Observation Day at Brownsville Overlook on November 9

Come join us! The annual Waterfowl Observation Day, hosted by the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Midwest Fisheries Center, Friends of the Upper Mississippi (FUM) and Friends of the Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8 (FOR78) will be held Saturday, November 9th at the Brownsville Overlook between 10:00 a.m. and…

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Notice of Availability for Public Comment

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: A draft Compatibility Determination, Realignment of a utility right-of-way (ITC Midwest LLC and Dairyland Power Cooperative, Cardinal to Hickory Creek transmission line, Clayton County, Iowa) is available for public comment from October 25 through November 26, 2019. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge is proposing to allow existing transmission…

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Friends October Meeting

Friends, the next scheduled meeting for the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is tomorrow, Thursday, October 24 beginning at 4:10 p.m. in the basement (Room 20) of the Exchange Building, 51 East 4th Street, Winona.

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Swan Watch 2019

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will again offer a bus tour to view the fall migration and changing colors of the Upper Mississippi River from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Saturday, November 16, 2019. Participants will have the opportunity to view migrating tundra swans and other waterfowl up-close on the Upper Mississippi River National…

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September Meeting

Thursday, September 26, 2019: Today at 4:10 p.m. the Friends will hold their regular monthly meeting with a twist. There will be three guests at today’s meeting. First, Winona State University seniors Matt Gruber and Austin Stearns will be joining to discuss how they can help the Friends through a project for their “Marketing for…

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Paddle the Chippewa River with Ranger Ed

You are invited to join Refuge Ranger Ed Lagace for a free paddle on Saturday, September 14, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The trip will begin on the Chippewa River and return through the Nelson-Trevino Bottoms of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge). Because of river current, this trip…

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