The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reminding boaters that regulations within the closed areas of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge start Saturday.
The program’s purpose is to reduce disturbances to resting and feeding waterfowl that use the closed areas of the refuge during fall migration.
Closed areas are voluntary avoidance areas, but those less than 1,000 acres prohibit the use of motors. Some areas along the river will have a designated travel corridor posted that boaters should follow.
The voluntary avoidance areas are: Pool 4, Big Lake, Wis.; Pool 5, Weaver, Minn.; and Pool 5a, Polander Lake, Minn. The motor-prohibited areas are: Pool 4, Rieck’s Lake, Wis.; Pool 4, Peterson Lake, Minn.; and Pool 5, Spring Lake, Wis.
For current information and maps, visit the Refuge http://www.fws.gov/midwest/uppermississippiRiver