UNION SLOUGH PRAIRIES NEED HELP ONCE MORE

The proposed Grassland Management Plan has now been issued for Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge near Titonka, Iowa.   The Plan is good.  If implemented, it will greatly help the endangered prairie remnants on the Refuge, including the federally-threatened prairie bush clover (Lespedeza leptostachya) and other declining species.  

But the Plan needs help from prairie supporters if it is to become official policy.  The Refuge needs to receive public comments in favor of the Plan.  The deadline for comments is August 16th, 2003. 

Comments should be sent to George Maze, Refuge Manager, at:

George_Maze@fws.gov

The Plan includes proposals for various management strategies to help the 600 acres of remnant prairie on the Refuge.  They include woody vegetation removal, prescribed fire, haying, invasive species control, local-ecotype seed harvesting, and prairie planting.  These strategies will also help the grasslands on the rest of the 3,334-acre Refuge.  These other grasslands are very important as buffers, grassland bird habitat, and potential prairie reconstruction areas.

The Plan is available online at:  http://midwest.fws.gov/unionslough/

Below is a sample message.  If you've helped Union Slough by sending previous comments, thank you!  Your comments made a huge difference.   Please help once more.   Doing so will also help restoration efforts on many other National Wildlife Refuges.

SAMPLE MESSAGE:   I strongly support the Grassland Management Plan for Union Slough, especially the removal of the invading trees and brush that threaten the native prairies, grassland birds, and grassland habitat on the refuge.   Please implement the Grassland Management Plan as soon as possible.

For more information, please contact:

Cindy Hildebrand
grantridge@aol.com
Ames, IA  50010