The Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club, a group of sportsmen and women in Fergus Falls, Minn., has donated an undisclosed amount to the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District to address staffing issues and project backlog.
According to a March 7 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service news release, the federal agency will match the donated funds at a dollar-to-dollar rate, at least, and will hire a biologist for three years.
“The direct benefit is going to be putting more wildlife habitat back on the landscape. Doing so will provide people with diverse opportunities to enjoy the outdoors while improving water quality and reducing soil erosion,” Neil Powers, Fergus Falls Wetland Management District manager, said in the release. “Further gains include diversifying the economics of the county through grass-based agriculture, creating a conservation connection with working lands so private landowners gain improved grazing land that also aids wildlife.”
The Fergus Falls Wetland Management District includes 64 state Wildlife Management Areas, totaling 29,827 acres.
“We wanted to invest this money through hiring somebody. That’s the thought process: invest in the future, not just on public land but on private land. That’s going to impact our future generations,” said Tony Rondeau, vice president of the Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club.
Staff members also manage two water fowl refuges, four state duck refuges, two designated waterfowl feeding and resting areas, two wildlife sanctuaries and four state game refuges.
“There’s a minimal amount of land in public ownership, and if it weren’t for private habitat protecting clean air, clean water and wildlife and people dedicated to protecting them, our work would not go anywhere,” Rondeau explained.
The Fergus Falls Fish and Game Club owns 1,100 acres of public hunting land and has been active in the community since 1920.
