Waubay Wetland Management District
Encyclopedia
Waubay Wetland Management District is located in the "Coteau des Prairies
," or prairie hills region of South Dakota
. It includes more than 300 waterfowl
production areas in six counties of northeastern South Dakota. The WPAs range from 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) to more than 1600 acres (6.5 km²) in size, comprising a total of 40000 acres (161.9 km²). WPAs provide vital wildlife habitat in a landscape of cropland and pasture.
Access to all WPAs is limited to foot traffic only. Grass parking lots are available at many of the larger WPAs to provide off-road parking. There are no facilities or designated hiking
trails. WPAs tend to be used very heavily during hunting seasons, but they also provide wonderful opportunities to explore the natural areas of South Dakota at other times of the year.
Waubay Wetland Management District includes the very first waterfowl production area - McCarlson WPA, acquired in January 1959 from Arnold and Lydia McCarlson.
Coteau des Prairies
The Coteau des Prairies is a plateau approximately 200 miles in length and 100 miles in width , rising from the prairie flatlands in eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa in the United States...
," or prairie hills region of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. It includes more than 300 waterfowl
Waterfowl
Waterfowl are certain wildfowl of the order Anseriformes, especially members of the family Anatidae, which includes ducks, geese, and swans....
production areas in six counties of northeastern South Dakota. The WPAs range from 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) to more than 1600 acres (6.5 km²) in size, comprising a total of 40000 acres (161.9 km²). WPAs provide vital wildlife habitat in a landscape of cropland and pasture.
Access to all WPAs is limited to foot traffic only. Grass parking lots are available at many of the larger WPAs to provide off-road parking. There are no facilities or designated hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails. WPAs tend to be used very heavily during hunting seasons, but they also provide wonderful opportunities to explore the natural areas of South Dakota at other times of the year.
Waubay Wetland Management District includes the very first waterfowl production area - McCarlson WPA, acquired in January 1959 from Arnold and Lydia McCarlson.