Managing Water for Wildlife at Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa

Legacy Restoration Fund projects are expected to improve over 400 water infrastructure and other utility assets on public lands, including at National Wildlife Refuges. Water control systems at National Wildlife Refuges often play an important role in protecting natural habitats for waterfowl and other birds. At Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Maintenance Action Team rehabilitated the Fox Pond pumping station to help preserve critical habitat for waterfowl along the Mississippi Flyway, a critical annual migration path for more than 325 bird species. The Maintenance Action Team removed and replaced the aged vertical submersible pump that had been damaged by repeated floods. The replaced pump allows the Refuge to better manage over 1,100 acres of moist soil to keep the area habitable for waterfowl.

Maintenance Action Teams perform critical maintenance and repair work on public lands managed by the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through investments from the Legacy Restoration Fund. Maintenance Action Teams primarily consist of federal employees trained in various trades, including carpentry, masonry, and historic preservation, who mobilize regionally to work on smaller scope maintenance activities. They provide staff with valuable training, as well as opportunities to strengthen relationships with partner organizations, resulting in more diverse candidate pools for employment and internship opportunities. Maintenance Action Teams work at sites such as Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge which allows the Department to expand the reach of the Legacy Restoration Fund program to a broader range of refuges and parks.