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FWS Looks for Property

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The temporary home of the McGregor District Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is located at 470 Cliff Haven Road, Prairie du Chien, across from Cabela’s.

 

McGregor District Office of the FWS 

actively seeking permanent location

By Ted Pennekamp

 

Come March, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, McGregor District, will have been housed at its temporary location for two years. The FWS is continuing to look for suitable land for a permanent location since moving from their McGregor building in March of 2014 to a building and grounds at 470 Cliff Haven Road, Prairie du Chien.

Acting McGregor District Manager Wendy Woyczik said the office was relocated because they needed more space than the former building at 401 Business Highway 18N in McGregor, which had served as the location since the 1980s. More space is needed, especially in the summer when there are eight to 10 people using the facility, including interns and Youth Conservation Corps.

In addition, the former building is hard up against the bluff, and there were continuing problems with rocks and other debris coming down. It also was always moist and mold was an issue, said Woyczik. The small parking lot also caused problems because there wasn’t enough space for the FWS to park its equipment, and it was tough for semis to unload supplies. Semis simply couldn’t get into the lot, said Woyczik.

The new location in Prairie du Chien has a bigger building and a much bigger parking lot with easier access for everyone. The current location is leased from Tom Quick of Bagley. Woyczik said it is a five-year lease with the possibility of extending the lease another five years.

“We’re still looking for a permanent home,” said Woyczik. “We’re looking for property that is at least 14 acres and is adjacent to FWS property that’s out of the flood plain. We need it to be big enough for an office and a shop and to possibly have a restored prairie with a hiking trail.”

Woyczik said the property can be on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River or on the Wisconsin side. “We don’t have to be on the Iowa side,” she said. “But, we do have to maintain an Iowa presence. We’re actively looking for willing sellers to make a permanent home.”

Once a property is found and an office building and shop built, the FWS will sell the McGregor property, Woyczik said.

District Manager Richard King left in August, and Woyczik said it is not yet known when a new district manager will be chosen.

The McGregor District FWS Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The McGregor District manages Pools 9, 10 and 11 on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. In addition, the McGregor District manages the Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge.

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