SIOUX FALLS, SD – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will hold two public meetings on a draft Environmental Assessment and Land Protection Plan for its proposed Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. The Service wants to protect about 2 million acres of wetlands and grasslands as waterfowl habitat by purchasing easements from landowners that would prevent the land from being plowed or drained. The targeted area is the eastern half of the Dakotas and northern North Dakota into northeast Montana. Public meetings to discuss the project and potential impacts will be held June 28 in Bismarck, N.D., and June 29 in Miller. The agency also is taking public comments until July 25.
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