Welcome from the Friends of the Refuge Headwaters

News and Events

Availability of Trapping Permits for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

October 8, 2019

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that Refuge special use permits and trap tags for the 2019-2020 furbearer trapping season on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (Refuge) will be issued beginning October 15, 2019 at the following locations: Winona District, 51 East 4th Street, Room 203, Winona, MN Phone…

Swan Watch 2019

September 27, 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…

September Meeting

September 26, 2019

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…

Paddle the Chippewa River with Ranger Ed

August 30, 2019

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…

Monthly Meeting – Date Change

August 15, 2019

The regularly scheduled August Friends of the Refuge Headwaters meeting is being moved to Thursday, August 29. The meeting will begin at 4:10 p.m. in the basement (Room 20) of the Exchange Building (51 East 4th Street) in Winona. We hope to see you there!

Flood Repairs Close Local Landings

August 15, 2019

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Winona District will be closing the Mertes’ Slough Landing on Hwy 54/43 and McNally Landing on the Prairie Island Dike in Winona, MN at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, 2019. The landings will remain closed while repairs are made to the boat docks at these…