Lake Vermilion Public Islands America's Outdoors is a public information center that provides recreation information on national, state, and local outdoor areas; environmental education materials; and a professional staff to assist with citizen-based conservation projects. The Center also has automated General Land Office Records documenting the transfer of lands from U.S. ownership to private landowners. These services are provided by BLM, the National Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service.
Leopold WMD The Leopold Wetland Mangement District manages 41 waterfowl production areas encompassing 9,000 acres in 14 southeastern Wisconsin counties. It also manages 45 conservation easements totaling 3,000 acres in 33 eastern Wisconsin counties. WPAs consist of marshland habitat surrounded by grassland, primarily warm season grasses and woodland communities. They are managed primarily for waterfowl but also provide habitat for a variety of other wildlife species such as, shorebirds, wading birds, mink, muskrat, beaver and deer. They are open to public hunting, trapping and fishing.
Necedah NWR The Necedah National Wildlife Refuge is located in central Wisconsin, in a area known as the Great Central Wisconsin Swamp. The refuge was converted from drained farmland back to its original habitat type of marshland and open water by efforts of the Civilian Conservation Corp. Numerous water management facilities have been constructed providing optimum wetland habitat for waterfowl and shorebirds. Upland management practices of forestry and prescribe burning have created a mosaic of habitat types which benefit not only waterfowl, resident wildlife, migratory birds and endangered species such as the Karner blue butterfly. The refuge's public use program includes recreational as well as educational and interpretive opportunities. New trail construction, an observation tower, a photo blind, a fishing pier, interpretive observation decks and other facilities are available and expanding. Visitors coming into the refuge headquarters office can pick up refuge brochures, view a slide program describing the history and management of the refuge, examine the many displays, pictures and wildlife artifacts, and visit with refuge staff about past, present, and future management activities.
North Country National Scenic Trail Threading its way across our landscape, the North Country National Scenic Trail (NST) links outstanding scenic, natural, recreational, historic, and cultural areas in seven of our northern States--New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota.
Saint Croix National Scenic River The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway consists of the Namekagon and St. Croix Rivers providing 252 miles of recreational opportunities. The Riverway is one of the intial rivers designated under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968. The Lower St. Croix was added in 1972. The Riverway is a unique area with a diversity of habitat, which provides many opportunities for viewing wildlife. A variety of recreational activities can be enjoyed in this picturesque setting. The upper stretches are ideal for canoeists, the rivers are shallow and narrow with some rapids. The lower stretches broaden and widen and can be used by boats.
St. Croix WMD The St. Croix Wetland Management District encompasses eight counties in western Wisconsin including Burnett, Washburn, Polk, Barron, St. Croix, Dunn, Pierce, and Pepin Counties. The station manages the 38 Waterfowl Production Areas, 19 conservation easements and has a very active private lands program that is heavily involved with wetland and grassland restoration. Roughly half of the district was historically native prairie or savanna, with the rest wooded. This part of Wisconsin is very scenic and ranges from wooded lake country in the north to rolling agricultural land in the south. The District includes the "Northwest Wisconsin Pothole Area", an area with high wetland and waterfowl densities and among the most important waterfowl breeding areas in Wisconsin. Gray wolves, trumpeter swans, and Karner Blue Butterflies (endangered) all breed within the District. The St. Croix Valley provides an important corridor for neotropical migrants.
