Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Area in Effect on Upper Mississippi Refuge

Onalaska, Wis. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking boaters in the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge to avoid designated areas within the La Crosse District through mid-November. Allowing birds to rest and feed gives them a better chance of reaching winter habitat with enough body fat to survive.

In the La Crosse District, voluntary waterfowl avoidance areas are located on parts of Navigation Pools 7 and 8 of the Mississippi River and are in effect through mid-November. Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Area in Navigation Pool 7: The avoidance area on Lake Onalaska is marked with orange-and-white buoys, covering a 3,356-acre section of the lake.

Voluntary Waterfowl Avoidance Areas in Navigation Pool 8: All boaters are also asked to avoid entering the 984-acre Goose Island No Hunting Zone and the 6,538-acre Wisconsin Islands Closed Area, both located in Pool 8. To further reduce disturbance to waterfowl concentrated in the Goose Island No Hunting Zone, the use of motors is also prohibited. Orange and white buoys will also be placed in Pool 8 to alert boaters of these areas.