U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Waterfowl Production Areas
Quick Facts
Current Status
• The Service’s Midwest Region
manages over 900 WPAs totaling
almost 300,000 acres in
Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and
Michigan.
Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs)
are public lands purchased by the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service to increase
the production of migratory birds,
especially waterfowl. Typically 200 to
300 acres each, WPAs protect wetland
and grassland habitat for ducks, geese,
shorebirds and other wildlife. More
than 3,000 WPA’s have been established
since 1958 when Congress authorized
the use of Federal Duck Stamp funds
for purchasing small wetlands.
• Wildlife comes first on all
lands within the National
Wildlife Refuge System; but
activities such as hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation,
photography, environmental
education and interpretation are
encouraged when compatible
with the refuge’s purpose.
• The National Wildlife Refuge
System is a unique network of
lands and waters set aside
specifically for the conservation
of fish, wildlife and the habitats
upon which they depend.
• Over 800,000 people visit
waterfowl production areas
yearly.
• Many threatened or
endangered species, such as the
western prairie fringed orchid,
rely heavily on WPA habitat for
their survival.
Hot Topics:
Nearly 95 percent of WPAs are
located in the prairie pothole region of
the U.S. – North and South Dakota,
Montana, Minnesota and Iowa. Prairie
potholes are shallow wetlands left by
retreating glaciers 12,000 years ago.
Surrounded by grasses and rich with
aquatic life, they are wonderlands for
nesting waterfowl, earning this area
the nickname “duck factory of North
America.” Of this vast prairie pothole
region, Minnesota and Iowa are located
within the Service’s Midwest Region.
The Midwest Region also manages
WPAs in Wisconsin and Michigan.
Throughout the last century, many
wetlands were drained for agriculture.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
buys wetlands and adjacent uplands —
using proceeds from the sale of Federal
Duck Stamps — and restores them to
their former splendor as WPAs.
Additional habitat on private lands is
protected through a variety of
conservation easements.
Habitat management activities on
WPAs focus on the restoration,
enhancement and maintenance of
Many partner organizations such as
Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited
and the Minnesota Waterfowl
Association, cooperate with the
Service to restore wetlands and
grasslands on newly acquired
WPAs.
Winning artists of the Federal Duck
Stamp competition have also
cooperated with the Service to
restored habitat on WPAs. Some of
these artists include Scot Storm, Joe
Hautman, Bob Hautman and Jim
Hautman.
wetlands and associated grasslands for the
benefit of waterfowl and other migratory
birds. Tools and techniques used include
manipulation of water levels, seeding of
upland nesting habitat, prescribed fire,
waterfowl nesting structures, tree and brush
removal, mowing and haying. Most WPAs
are open to hunting, fishing, wildlife
watching, and photography, making them
precious to people as well as wildlife.
Produced by Region 3, External Affairs, June 2004
Acres of Waterfowl Production Areas Acquired in Region 3 in Last Five Years
9,964.10
10,000.00
8,000.00
7,799.02
6,265.81
6,000.00
4,000.00
2,283.83
2,000.00
0.00
0.00
Iowa
0.00 0.00
Michigan
Purchased
1.07
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Easements
Total Acres of Waterfowl Production Areas Acquired in Region 3
1 8 7 ,5 0 2 .3 5
2 0 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1 8 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1 6 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1 4 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1 2 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
7 3 ,6 1 2 .8 4
1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
8 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
6 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
4 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
1 9 ,5 4 3 .5 4
6 3 7 .7 0
2 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0
2 3 7 .0 8
1 7 ,6 8 2 .9 0
0 .0 0
2 .0 7
0 .0 0
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