PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE TO COMMENT ON THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER NATIONAL
WILDLIFE & FISH REFUGE

ACT NOW, THE COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES SOON!!!

The Mississippi River, the lifeblood of the Midwest and home to millions of people, stretches from Minnesota to Louisiana. The river's habitat supports fish, birds, waterfowl, insects, reptiles, amphibians, mussels, boating, fishing, hunting, trapping and commercial activity. The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is developing their Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (UMRNWFR CCP). This plan covers the river and the associated public lands from above near Wabasha, MN to near Rock Island, IL. In order for the plan to reflect everyone's wishes, people concerned about this important resource need to weigh in.

The Sierra Club knows that hunting, fishing, and recreation along the Mississippi are important and sustainable traditional practices. However, too much recreation threatens the river ecosystem and wildlife. Increasing noise, trash, harvest, and erosion harm habitat and native and migratory wildlife populations. The final plan must get all of us - hunters, anglers, boaters, campers and other users - to reduce our impacts on the refuge's resources.

Ultimately, the refuge's plan needs to make sure that our children and grandchildren can continue to enjoy the refuge's splendor, and that the refuge plan includes aspects to help offset habitat losses in surrounding areas.

The following link will take you to the USFWS website for more info:  http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/index.html

Please send any comments to: r3planning@fws.gov 


What follows is our suggested response. Please feel free to add or change this as you see fit.

To whom it may concern:

I support protecting the Mississippi River for my family and future generations of people, fish and wildlife. The final Mississippi River Conservation Plan must allow people and nature to co-exist. I support Alternative D, the USFWS preferred alternative, to ensure adequate water quality and habitat for fish, wildlife and quality recreational opportunities for future generations.


Sincerely,

Name 
Address
City, ST ZIP