Fish and Wildlife Service, Minnesota.
Litchfield Wetland Management District was established in 1978 to acquire, restore, and manage habitat for waterfowl production and other migratory birds.
Today, the district manages 156 separate parcels of federally owned land, called waterfowl production areas, within a seven county area in south-central Minnesota. These counties include Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Stearns, Todd, and Wright counties. Together, the waterfowl production areas encompass about 38,000 acres of land dedicated to wildlife and wildlife-dependent recreation. The district also manages Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge tracts that fall within its range. The district currently manages four public refuge tracks that are adjacent to waterfowl production areas. District lands contain diverse native habitats from native forest in the northeast to the tallgrass prairie in the south and west, with the transition zone in between.
In addition to managing land for public use, the district protects more than 13,000 acres of privately-owned wetland and grassland habitat, purchased as permanent easements to restore and protect habitat. The land remains in private ownership, but the easements protect the integrity of the wetlands and surrounding uplands for wildlife. The district also works with private landowners to protect privately-owned wetlands and prairies through the voluntary Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
The office is located three miles south of Litchfield, Minnesota, on 615th Avenue. If arriving from the north, east, or west, turn south on Highway 22 where it intersects with US Highway 12 in downtown Litchfield. Proceed south one and one-half miles to Lake Ripley Drive. Turn right. Bear left in 0.2 miles as Lake Ripley drive joins 615th Avenue. The district office is located 2.1 miles south on 615th Avenue and is marked with entrance signs. If arriving from the South on Highway 22 turn left (west) onto Meeker County 28. Meeker County 28 is located 8.1 miles north of the intersection of MN Highway 7 and MN Highway 22. After turning west on Meeker County 28, proceed 0.9 miles to the intersection with 615th Avenue. Turn right unto 615th Avenue and travel north 0.8 miles to the Refuge entrance.