Upper Mississippi River recognized as a Wetland of International Importance

The Upper Mississippi River, including the Midwests largest national wildlife refuge, has been approved as a Wetland of International Importance by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The ecological, social, and economic values of the Upper Mississippi River make it one of the crown jewels of this nations wetlands," said Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar during the announcement. "Its certainly fitting that this area has now officially received international recognition.

The designated area stretches from near Wabasha, MN to Rock Island, IL and includes over 300,000 acres of federal and state lands and waters of the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in Minnesota and the adjacent 6,226-acre Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin.

The proposal for designation was endorsed by the Department of Natural Resources of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and seven members of Congress from the respective states. The proposal now goes to the Ramsar Secretariat in Gland, Switzerland, for review and formal designation, expected early in 2010.