About Us

Our Mission

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is "working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."

The Refuge System is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Service is the primary Federal entity responsible for conserving and enhancing the Nation’s fish and wildlife populations and their habitats. Although the Service shares this responsibility with other Federal, State, tribal, local, and private entities, the Service has specific trust resource responsibilities for migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, certain anadromous fish, certain marine mammals, coral reef ecosystems, wetlands, and other special aquatic habitats. The Service also has similar trust responsibilities for the lands and waters it administers to support the conservation and enhancement of all fish and wildlife and their associated habitats.

What We Do

Wildlife conservation is at the heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System. It drives everything on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands and waters managed within the Refuge System, from the purposes for which a national wildlife refuge is established to the recreational activities offered to the resource management tools used. Using conservation best practices, the Refuge System manages Service lands and waters to help ensure the survival of native wildlife species.

Management and Conservation

Waubay Wetland Management District sits at the western edge of the Tallgrass Prairie Region, the most threatened ecosystem in North America. Because agriculture and land development have changed the landscape, District staff use a variety of management tools to mimic natural processes.

Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) are public lands purchased with Federal Duck Stamp dollars. Many WPAs are small, ranging in size from as little as 10 acres to nearly 2,000 acres. They are often broadly dispersed over many counties in the Prairie Pothole Region. More than 3,000 waterfowl production areas have been purchased since 1958 when Congress authorized the use of Duck Stamp dollars for purchasing small wetlands.

Grazing

Historically, bison roamed the prairies in massive herds, eating and trampling grass and adding nutrients to the soil as they moved through an area. Today, District staff use other grazers, primarily cattle, to help manage grasslands. When used properly, grazing is a useful tool for controlling invasive species, reducing dead plant material, and increasing nutrient cycling, all of which improve a stand of grass. Since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service doesn't own livestock, we use special use permits with ranchers and they graze their cattle on the land for a set time period. Ranchers benefit by resting some of their pastures and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gets improved habitat for wildlife.

Prescribed Burning

Fire is a natural event in grasslands. In the past, most fires would have started from lightning strikes, though people also have been implicated in setting grass aflame. Though the aftereffects of a fire initially look devastating, fires rejuvenate grasslands by getting rid of old vegetation and adding a quick burst of nutrients to the soil. Today, District staff use fire under carefully controlled conditions to improve the health and diversity of lands we manage. Most burns occur during April, May and June. Upland burns at this time set back invading cool-season plants, such as smooth brome and Kentucky bluegrass

Upland Restoration

Some of the grasslands we manage are native prairie - they have never been plowed up and have many native species. Other grasslands may have been planted to crops or tame grasses for pasture or hay. These grasslands may have only one or two species of plants and may be infested by invasive species and weeds. District staff work to restore these areas with native grass and flower species. The easiest way to accomplish this is to plant it with crops for a few years to get a clean seed bed. Ten to fifty grassland species are then planted and nurtured for the next few years. Though this is a far cry from native prairie, these areas provide more diversity and structure for wildlife habitat than unrestored lands.

Wetland Restoration

Restoring wetlands is intensive - it involves restoring drained wetlands and natural runoff, reducing siltation and erosion, and re-establishing native vegetation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also provides assistance to private landowners who wish to restore or enhance their lands for the benefit of wildlife and natural resources. This assistance is provided through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program. 

Conservation Easements

The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Act, also known as the Duck Stamp Act, authorizes land purchases with funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps to conserve migratory birds, especially waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans). Under this program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can both purchase lands and enter into conservation easements with private landowners to protect migratory bird habitat.