Family-Outdoors

Upper-Mississippi River stakeholders met with Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI-3rd) in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Friday, August 14. More than 70 stakeholders attended the roundtable meeting at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, along with local Department of Interior employees. Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius, Refuge Manager Sabrina Chandler, Secretary Sally Jewell, and Representative Ron Kind from Wisconsin talk with stakeholders at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Photo by Tami Heilemann/DOI. The meeting took place in coordination with the Secretary’s announcement on Thursday, August 13 of $750,000 in grant funding to Wisconsin from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Stakeholders discussed the recent grant funding, how it promotes the purchase of public lands, the impact of outdoor recreation on local and national economies, as well as engaging new sportsmen and women....

The Upper Mississippi River Valley upstream from Prairie du Chien, WI. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius joined staff from Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge this past Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the La Crosse visitor center in Onalaska, Wis. The event kicked off with opening words and welcomes from refuge leadership and community officials and was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony and a day of educational activities. Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius was pleased to join enthusiastic staff and community partners in welcoming everyone to this new place of learning and sharing. “When it comes down to it, this facility is all about the children. This is a place for families, students and others to start their discoveries of the Upper Mississippi River,” noted Melius. Attendees were treated to a day full of learning and fun, including family activities, educational talks, guided prairie walks and ...

Over 250 youths and their parents came out to Genoa National Fish Hatchery to enjoy a short seminar on ice safety tips and ice fishing techniques . They were then set loose on a hatchery pond stocked with 1,500 10-14 inch rainbow trout to test their new found ice fishing knowledge. This is an annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Upper Mississippi River Fisheries Services and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) fishery program offices that they support. These local Fishery offices are the LaCrosse Fish Health Center, the LaCrosse National Fish and Conservation Office and the Genoa National Fish Hatchery. There are 3 FWS fishery offices in the LaCrosse area, due to its proximity to the Mississippi River, and the diverse fishery populations and habitats that the big river holds. The LaCrosse Fish Health Center was founded in 1962, and services the entire Great Lakes/Big Rivers Region of the upper Midwest, providing fish health screening and wild fish health surv...

Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge staff helps a young angler use the fish camera to see under the water. Photo by Mary Stefanski/USFWS. The 11th annual Harpers Ferry Free Family Ice Fisheree will be held on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Signs will direct people to the parking lot in Harpers Ferry where they will be given a ride to and from nearby Joyce Lake. This ice fishing experience is sponsored by area businesses, Harper’s Ferry River Friends, the Booster Club, the Friends of Pool 10 and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Volunteers will introduce kids and adults alike to ice fishing and the value of connecting with nature, even when the weather turns cold. Fishing equipment will be provided, along with free hot dogs and hot chocolate. There will be a raffle and door prizes for all young participants. All fish will be released. For more information please contact:  Robert Vavra (563-586-2123), J & L’s...