Morris Wetland Management District

Morris Wetland Management District includes 249 waterfowl production areas - small parcels of wetlands and grasslands - scattered throughout an eight-county area and encompassing 54,307 total acres. Like other wetland management districts in the prairie states, the goal of the district is to restore and protect enough wetland and grassland habitat to meet the needs of prairie wildlife, particularly breeding waterfowl, as well as provide places for public recreation.

Waterfowl Production Areas were created by an amendment to the Federal Duck Stamp Act in 1958. Scientists realized that these small pockets of habitat were vital to breeding waterfowl. This amendment gave the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service permission to purchase small wetlands. Your purchase of a Federal Duck Stamp provides funds to acquire, oversee and manage waterfowl production areas and easements.

The district covers Big Stone, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle, Pope, Stevens, Swift, Traverse and Yellow Medicine counties in western Minnesota. The district purchases land from willing sellers, manages scattered waterfowl production areas and works with private landowners interested in improving their land for wildlife. The district also protects land through the purchase of permanent conservation easements from willing landowners to protect wetlands and grasslands on private property throughout the district.