Paddle the Mississippi River Backwaters – 8-4

You are invited to join the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) on a paddle through the backwaters of the Refuge near Winona, MN. Join fellow paddlers on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. at the Verchota Landing for a two-hour adventure. This paddle…

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Refuge Updates

A quick reminder about the paddling event on Thursday, July 14 out of the McNally Landing on the Prairie Island Dike (Winona) beginning at 9:30 am. Click here for details. Registration was due by the end of today but as a volunteer you can have until the end of tomorrow to register with Leslie Watson…

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Paddle the Mississippi River Backwaters

You are invited to join the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) and Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) on a paddle through the backwaters of the Mississippi River near Winona, MN.  Join fellow paddlers on Thursday, July 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the McNally Landing for a two-hour adventure.  This paddle is recommended…

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Thank You!

We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Kwik Trip for donating 50 boxed lunches for our June 1, Project COMPASS (Community Education Adult Disability Program) fishing event and picnic that took place on Lake Winona. A thank you is also extended to all the volunteers from the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters…

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Flowering Rush Control to Begin on Upper Mississippi River

Boaters are asked to avoid specific backwater areas of Upper Mississippi River Pools 4, 5, 7 and 8 during upcoming invasive species control efforts. Beginning the week of June 27, 2022, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) will be contracting to have the aquatic herbicide Diquat applied to approximately 1,100 acres…

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No Fireworks Allowed on the “Upper Miss” Refuge

The 4th of July is just around the corner.  If you are heading to the Mississippi River for a boating or camping trip, just a reminder – no fireworks are allowed on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) because of their disturbance to wildlife as well as the litter they leave behind.…

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Refuge Notes and Reminders

Refuge Friends and Volunteers, there are a few items below that may be of interest and a reminder that the monthly Friends of the Refuge Headwaters meeting is today beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter off Dacota Street on West Lake Winona. At the May meeting, we discussed a potential phragmites…

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Friends June Meeting

The next Friends of the Refuge Headwaters monthly meeting will begin at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, June 23rd at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter on Dacota Street on West Lake Winona. Click here for the meeting agenda.  

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Thank You!

A big THANK YOU to all the Refuge Friends and Volunteers who were able to help out with the Project COMPASS fishing event last week! We had a great turn-out, the weather was fabulous, and many fish (and a variety of fish) were caught. Also a big thank you to Kwik Trip for providing the…

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Friends May Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters is Thursday, May 26 beginning at 4:15 p.m. Please note that the meeting will be held outdoors due to the increased COVID levels in the County. We will meet at the Hiawatha Valley Marine Shelter on West Lake Winona (527 West Lake Park Drive). This…

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