U.S. Designates Upper Mississippi River Floodplains a Wetland of International Importance

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced approval of portions of the Upper Mississippi River, including the Midwest’s largest national wildlife refuge, as a Wetland of International Importance.
In making the announcement, Secretary Salazar said, “The ecological, social, and economic values of the Upper Mississippi River make it one of the crown jewels of this [...]

Apply Now For MCC Summer Conservation Work Program For High School Youth

High school youth looking for summer work are encouraged to apply now one of 85 positions available with the Minnesota Conservation Corps (MCC) Summer Youth Program.
Youth, ages 15-18, will be based at a residential program site in St. Croix State Park for eight weeks. They will travel in crews led by staff members to various [...]

Ski By Candlelight at Hayes Lake State Park Feb. 7

The public is invited to ski by the light of the moon and the glow of candlelight at Hayes Lake State Park from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 7.
Up to 1.5 km of groomed ski trails will be lit with candle luminaries for the event. There will be a trail stop midway, where skiers [...]

DNR, Ice Fishing Derby Offers Minnesota Youth Angling Opportunities

Fifty young people will be chosen to learn ice fishing techniques at a special seminar to be held on Jan. 24 at the 34th Annual Maple Lake Ice Fishing Derby. The kids will also receive free gear and on-the-ice instruction from Bob Jensen, television host of Fishing the Midwest.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) [...]

Whitefish and Cisco Sport Netting Season on Shagawa Lake, Minnesota

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Tower Area Fisheries announces the opening of whitefish/cisco netting on Shagawa Lake in St. Louis County. Opening date for Shagawa Lake will be November 8, 2008 and closing date will be November 30, 2008.

Nets may be set after sunrise on the opening day and must be removed before sunset [...]

ATV and Other OHV Riders: Riding Restrictions Start With Firearms Deer Season Opener in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds off-highway vehicle (OHV) riders that new recreational riding restrictions will be in effect for the duration of the regular firearms deer hunting season. This restriction is intended to protect recreational OHV riders from potentially unsafe riding conditions and to minimize conflicts between deer hunters and recreational riders [...]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Builds Mass Marking Program for Great Lakes Trout and Salmon

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Midwest Region this October received the first of a series of automated fish tagging trailers – an initial step in the development of a mass marking program that will eventually mark or tag all salmon and trout stocked into U.S. waters of the Great Lakes. Once implemented, this [...]

Minnesota DNR Dock Removals Underway

All across Minnesota, lakeshore owners have been busily removing docks in anticipation of freezing temperatures. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is doing the same at public water accesses.
Craig Mitchell, DNR Southern Region Trails and Waterways manager at New Ulm, said the DNR tries to leave docks out as long as reasonably possible.
“We decide when [...]

Alaska Joins Cooperative Effort to Protect Nation’s Wildlife

On September 8, Alaska became the 30th state to join the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (IWVC) in a cooperative effort to protect the nation’s wildlife resources.
Founded in 1989 by charter states Colorado, Oregon and Nevada, the IWVC is a multi-state program that provides law enforcement agencies greater authority and improved resources to enforce wildlife regulations [...]

Trout Travails in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa Treated With More Than $300,000 in Fish Aid

Recognizing the need to fix crumbling stream-banks and dilapidated culverts, and to improve water quality for brook trout and other aquatic species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently provided more than $300,000 to support 16 fish habitat projects in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. With nearly $1 million in partner contributions, the projects will restore [...]