One Hundred Years and Counting, The History of the “Refuge”

Presented by Ed Britton, Wildlife Refuge Manager, Savanna District, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Tuesday, September 3rd at 7:00pm

St. John United Church of Christ, Freeport, IL

We hope you come out and listen to Ed Britton’s presentation on the amazing 100-year history of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Established in 1924 to be a refuge for fish, wildlife and plants and a breeding place for migratory birds, Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge now covers more than 240,000 acres and extends roughly 261 miles of the Mississippi River across four states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

More than 290 species of birds migrate throughout the refuge every year. About 40% of the waterfowl in the nation use the Mississippi River as a travel corridor in the fall migration. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge hosts more than 300 pairs of Bald Eagles, in part due to having one of the largest blocks of floodplain forest habitat in the lower 48 states. The refuge is designated as a Wetland of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention and a Globally Important Bird Area.

Just as the refuge provides a great place for wildlife, it also offers phenomenal opportunities for public recreation. More than 3.7 million visits take place each year as people come to hunt, fish, watch wildlife, take pictures, attend public programs, walk, boat, swim and much more.

Ed has worked 47 years with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the National Wildlife Refuge System. He started his career along the Mid-Atlantic Ocean, have worked throughout the United States, including the Bering Sea in Alaska. Currently, he has been at Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge for 29 years as the Savanna District Manager. His office covers 80 miles of river from Dubuque down to the Quad Cities and contains 64,000 acres in IL, IA and WI.