About Chase Lake Wetland Management District
Established in 1993, the District manages both U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-owned waterfowl production areas as well as wetland and grassland easements on private lands in Stutsman and Wells counties. Located in the famous Prairie Pothole Region, the most productive area for breeding waterfowl in North America, the District and surrounding area provide breeding and migratory habitat for more than 293 bird species.The Prairie Pothole Region gets its name from the shallow freshwater wetlands (potholes) abundant across the Midwestern prairie landscape. This formerly glaciated landscape extends through part of eastern Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa in the United States. The Region also extends north into Canada. There are two physiographic regions within the District, the Drift Prairie in the east and the Missouri Coteau in the west. Plants, wildlife, and habitat across these two areas are significantly different from one another. These areas were formed over 10,000 years ago by retreating glaciers.Drift PrairieThe movement of glaciers along with the deposits of soil, rock, and minerals (drift) left behind, created the gently rolling topography seen throughout this area. Shallow depressions across the landscape became potholes and a wide variety of grasses and wildflowers became established across the uplands (prairie). Large expanses of grasslands have been tilled and small wetlands drained to accommodate many years of intensive farming of wheat, barley, corn, and beans throughout the Drift Prairie. The District focuses on protecting the fragments of grassland and wetlands that remain and restoring those that are no longer being farmed. Missouri CoteauThe Missouri Coteau marks the western limits of glaciation in North Dakota and features more rugged and elevated terrain than the neighboring Drift Prairie. The area is dotted with wetlands, in some areas up to 100 per square mile. This intermixing of grasslands and wetlands is especially impor
