Welcome from the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters

News and Events

Refuge Updates

December 12, 2022

This is an early heads-up that Project COMPASS fishing will be held on Wednesday, May 10 at the Huff Street dock and the fishing and picnic will be Wednesday, June 7 at the Hiawatha Valley Marines Shelter. Both events start at 5:00 p.m. Anyone looking for a summer job? We will be hiring two Biological…

A Thank You and Surprise!

November 18, 2022

Thank you to those who participated in the Swan Watch Bus Tour and a special “Thank You” to retired La Crosse District Manager Jim Nissen for providing interpretation on the bus! It was a snowy but good day to see swans. If you haven’t gotten out to see them yet, check them out on Big…

Friends October Meeting

October 24, 2022

The next regular meeting of the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters will be Thursday, October 27 beginning at 4:15 p.m. at the Refuge office (not the park shelter). Reminder, our office is located at 102 Walnut Street, Suite 205. Please bring a mask as it will be required if the Winona County community spread level…

Prairie Island Litter Pick-up

October 20, 2022

We will be conducting a litter pick-up of the Prairie Island dike on Thursday, October 27 beginning at 10:00 a.m. We will meet at the McNally Boat Landing (next to the Prairie Island Campground in Winona) to hand out equipment (gloves, picker-upper sticks, trash bags) and be done by noon. You will be assigned a…

Refuge Updates

October 13, 2022

Bike/Hike: Friends President Wendy Schneider and Refuge Biologist Stephen Winter are leading a bicycle ride and hike at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge on Thursday, October 20 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Space is limited and reservations are required by calling Stephen at 507.494.6214 (office), 402.310.5460 (mobile) or stephen_winter@fws.gov (e-mail). Click here for complete details. Swan Watch Bus…

It’s a Bike/Hike!

September 30, 2022

Thursday, October 20, 2022 | 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. TREMPEALEAU REFUGE Join Wendy Schneider (retired high school teacher and Minnesota Master Naturalist) and Steve Winter (Wildlife Biologist for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge) for a fun bike ride and hike through the refuge.  We will see beautiful fall colors and identify migrating…