Welcome from the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters

News and Events

Fall on the Refuge Photo Contest – Call for Entries

August 27, 2020

The Friends of the Refuge Headwaters are encouraging all amateur photographers to get outside this fall and capture the beauty of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) for a Fall Photo Contest. Photos in the following categories will be accepted until December 4, 2020: Scenic Views of the Refuge, Wildlife and…

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Friends of the Refuge Headwaters August Meeting

August 20, 2020

The next Friends of the Refuge Headwaters (FORH) meeting will be held at the Hiawatha Valley Marine Shelter located at 527 West Lake Street in Winona beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 27. Topics will include the upcoming advertisement for a fall photo contest, fall activities, and acting President John Lyons promises to show-and-tell…

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Trempealeau NWR to Hold Sealed Bidding for Trapping Units

August 18, 2020

This year the trapping auction at the Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge will be run a little differently than it has in past years. In the interest and safety of trappers and staff we will not be holding a public gathering to auction the units so we’ll be setting up a bidding process by mail to…

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Winners Announced in Friends of the Refuge Headwaters 2020 Photo Contest

August 4, 2020

It took several months but we were finally able to arrange an outdoor judging to select the winners of the 2020 Winter on our Refuge Photo Contest. A big thank you to our judges, Rick Frietsche and John Weiss, both of Rochester, and Heidi Bryant of Winona, for their time and keen eye in selecting the winners.…

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Invasive Species Alert – Your Help is Requested

July 22, 2020

Friends and Volunteers, we are experiencing an inundation of yet another invasive species known as flowering rush. Like many other invasive plants, it is beautiful but detrimental. Below is a news release and a photo of the plant. If you are on the river and see it, please let us know the location but, as…

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No Fireworks Allowed on the “Upper Miss” Refuge

June 28, 2020

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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