Fishing Events with Project Compass

Friends and Volunteers, we have two fishing events scheduled with Project Compass coming up soon in Winona. The first is next Wednesday, May 23 and the second is on Wednesday, June 6, both events are from 4:30 – 6:15 p.m. For those who are not aware, Project Compass is a Winona based program for adults…

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Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee Workshop

Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee Workshop Wednesday | May 30 | 8:30am-noon Upper Mississippi River NWFR La Crosse District Visitor Center Winona District Biologist Michelle Turton is offering a Rusty Patched Bumble Bee survey training on Wednesday, May 30 at the LaCrosse Visitor Center. The training is open to anyone interested in learning how to survey bumble…

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Paddle the Mississippi River Backwaters

You are invited to join Refuge Ranger Ed on a paddle through the backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) near Winona, MN. Join fellow paddlers on Saturday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m. at the McNally Landing for a two-hour adventure. This paddle is recommended for all experience levels. McNally…

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Arbor Day Event: Plant Trees on Mosquito Island

Saturday | May 5, 2018 | 9am – noon East End Boat Landing | 1250 E 4th St | Winona, MN In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters, come volunteer to help plant trees on Mosquito Island. Meet at the East…

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Big Changes to a Little Island

Many long-time Winona, MN residents grew up enjoying the beach on Mosquito Island, a small, non-descript piece of land in the Mississippi River located a short boat ride downstream of town. Over time, wind and waves took their toll and eroded the island away to a fraction of its former glory. But, during the fall…

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Looking for a Job this Summer?

The Winona District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) will be hiring four students this summer to work on a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) crew. The YCC program will begin Monday, June 18 and end Friday, August 10, 2018. Crew members will work a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday, 7:30…

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Blue Moon Hike

You are invited to join Refuge Ranger Ed on a hike to enjoy the last blue moon of 2018. The hike will begin at the Mertes’ Slough Landing at 7:00 p.m. and end by 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2018. Ranger Ed will share stories of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, the…

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News Release from the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY: Four (4) Compatibility Determinations (CDs) which evaluate various economic and/or commercial uses of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) are available for public comment from March 9 through April 9, 2018.  The draft CDs re-evaluate the following uses of the Refuge: Commercial Fishing Floats Commercially…

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