Glenwood area wildlife

The Glenwood wildlife work area

A sinkhole underneath an old water control structure resulted in this new one being built so water levels can be managed to benefit wildlife.

Hunters, trappers and wildlife watchers in Pope, Douglas, Grant, Stevens and Traverse counties benefit from the management, habitat and oversight work of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' Glenwood area wildlife office.

Area Supervisor Kevin Kotts, one full-time staff and one seasonal laborer oversee an area that includes 2 million acres of public and private land. This includes 115 Wildlife Management Areas totaling more than 18,000 acres. A significant feature in the Glenwood work area is Lake Christina, which is an important waterfowl breeding and migration shallow lake for many species of waterfowl. The staff also oversees four waterfowl refuges; six state duck refuges; two state game refuges; and four designated waterfowl feeding and resting areas that are undisturbed areas for ducks and geese during the waterfowl hunting season.

The Glenwood area is known for its many shallow lakes that provide excellent waterfowl hunting opportunities. It's also well known for its pheasant hunting. Deer and wild turkey hunting is especially good in the eastern portion of the work area. Furbearing species include the usual farmland species such as raccoons, mink and muskrats and in the last decade fisher and river otter have become fairly common.

Our work

• In collaboration with partners, constructing control structures on Ash Lake, Jennie Lake, Towner Lake, Lake Christina and Denton Slough, and managing these shallow lakes by manipulating water levels to improve water quality and food availability for waterfowl.
• Adding three tracts of land to existing WMA?s in Stevens County totaling 200 acres. Two of these tracts were purchased by Pheasants Forever and donated to the DNR.
• Conduct two draw-downs in 2015 on Lake Christina and the Urness WMA. Completed construction of a new water control Structure at the Nora WMA in 2016.
• Restoring, enhancing and/or developing 150 to 500 acres of native grass stands on area WMAs to provide quality grassland habitat for nesting, security and winter cover.
• Provide technical assistance and staff to help manage water levels on North Ottawa Impoundment, which was built to provide flood control and natural resource values. The North Ottawa Impoundment is a three-square mile impoundment that includes nine internal cells and more than a dozen water level control structures that will be managed to provide migration habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl throughout the growing season.
• Cooperating with livestock producers to graze up to 100 acres of WMA grasslands to improve its quality for nesting, security and winter wildlife cover.