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11-16-2004, 02:10 AM
Article published Sunday, November 14, 2004
New manager at Ottawa
Brewer succeeds Frisk at national wildlife refuge
A changing of the guard has taken place at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge complex with the appointment of Doug Brewer as manager.
Brewer, 45, is a native of Lakewood, Ohio, and succeeds Dan Frisk, who becomes manager of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois.
"I think it's a great refuge," said Brewer, who moved up from the post of assisant manager at Ottawa. "There are a lot of things I won't change," he said, referring to a host of top-drawer initiatives nurtured by his predecessor.
The 9,000-acre Ottawa complex on western Lake Erie is Ohio's only such federal holding. It lies in eastern Lucas County and western Ottawa County.
It includes the 2,600-acre Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge in Lucas County, the 77-acre West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge, nine miles offshore in the lake and the only federal wilderness in Ohio; the 4,635-acre main Ottawa unit, and two satellite units, Darby Marsh, 640 acres, and Navarre Marsh, 694 acres. Several hundred additional acres of small unnamed parcels also are included in the complex.
Know that it is somewhat unusual but welcome for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to "promote within" in naming new refuge managers. Usually they are shuffled around on the refuge-system checkerboard.
Brewer's appointment is a departure from the old standard and welcome, for it will allow continuity of excellent programs and projects under way at Ottawa. Adds Brewer: "Our relationship with our state division of wildlife partners is the best it has ever been, and we have many nongovernmental people who assist us in accomplishing our mission."
The Ohio Division of Wildlife operates the 2,000-acre Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area and Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station adjacent to the Ottawa main unit, and shares in management of the 908-acre Metzger Marsh at Bono in eastrern Lucas County, among other cooperative ventures.
The major challenges Brewer sees at the complex include construction of a new, $2 million visitor-education center, complete with a new entrance along State Rt. 2. Work is expected to begin in the spring, with completion expected in spring, 2006.
Another major challenge is a continuing battle against invasive plant species, including purple loosestrife, phragmites, flowering rush, multiflora rose, and reed canary grass. "These are the ones we have acres of," said Brewer.
Ottawa is one of several refuge complexes around the country to be chosen for a pilot project to train volunteers to use GPS units to map outbreaks of invasive plants, with an eye toward developing control strategies.
In related news, Brewer will be the guest speaker at the annual meeting and dinner of the Toledo Naturalists' Association, scheduled for Saturday at the Toledo Zoo Lodge.
His topic will be new projects and challenges at the refuge complex. Social hour is at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7:15 p.m., and the presentation at 8 p.m. Call Nancy Bucher for other details, at 419-878-3141.
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Trapping privileges at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge complex will be offered for bid Nov. 22 for a refuge trapping season set for Dec. 4 to March 15.
Trappers may take mink, muskrat, raccoon, fox, skunk, and opossum. Viewing of trapping units may be done Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Copies of maps, rules, and bid applications are available at refuge headquarters, 14000 West State Rt. 2, Oak Harbor.
Bids are due by 2 p.m. Nov. 22, when they will be opened. For other details, call Ottawa, 419-898-0014.
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Three southern Ohio state wildlife areas have been expanded through a cooperative effort by the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The Ohio Chapter of NWTF donated $250,000 to the division to help purchase 168 additional acres for the 14,300-acre Egypt Valley State Wildlife Area in Belmont and Guernsey counties and 255 acres for the 5,421-acre Cooper Hollow State Wildlife Area in Jackson County. The funds also helped established a new 376-acre Turkey Ridge State Wildlife Area in Vinton County.
Since 1986 the NWTF Ohio Chapter has contributed more than $1.7 million toward division efforts to acquire more than 68,000 acres of wildlife habitat. In all, the state wildlife division manages 181,900 of wildlife areas, not including the new additions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Pollick is The Blade's outdoor writer
» E-mail him at spollick@theblade.com
» Read more Steve Pollick columns at www.toledoblade.com/pollick
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041114/COLUMNIST22/411140349
New manager at Ottawa
Brewer succeeds Frisk at national wildlife refuge
A changing of the guard has taken place at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge complex with the appointment of Doug Brewer as manager.
Brewer, 45, is a native of Lakewood, Ohio, and succeeds Dan Frisk, who becomes manager of Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in southern Illinois.
"I think it's a great refuge," said Brewer, who moved up from the post of assisant manager at Ottawa. "There are a lot of things I won't change," he said, referring to a host of top-drawer initiatives nurtured by his predecessor.
The 9,000-acre Ottawa complex on western Lake Erie is Ohio's only such federal holding. It lies in eastern Lucas County and western Ottawa County.
It includes the 2,600-acre Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge in Lucas County, the 77-acre West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge, nine miles offshore in the lake and the only federal wilderness in Ohio; the 4,635-acre main Ottawa unit, and two satellite units, Darby Marsh, 640 acres, and Navarre Marsh, 694 acres. Several hundred additional acres of small unnamed parcels also are included in the complex.
Know that it is somewhat unusual but welcome for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to "promote within" in naming new refuge managers. Usually they are shuffled around on the refuge-system checkerboard.
Brewer's appointment is a departure from the old standard and welcome, for it will allow continuity of excellent programs and projects under way at Ottawa. Adds Brewer: "Our relationship with our state division of wildlife partners is the best it has ever been, and we have many nongovernmental people who assist us in accomplishing our mission."
The Ohio Division of Wildlife operates the 2,000-acre Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area and Crane Creek Wildlife Research Station adjacent to the Ottawa main unit, and shares in management of the 908-acre Metzger Marsh at Bono in eastrern Lucas County, among other cooperative ventures.
The major challenges Brewer sees at the complex include construction of a new, $2 million visitor-education center, complete with a new entrance along State Rt. 2. Work is expected to begin in the spring, with completion expected in spring, 2006.
Another major challenge is a continuing battle against invasive plant species, including purple loosestrife, phragmites, flowering rush, multiflora rose, and reed canary grass. "These are the ones we have acres of," said Brewer.
Ottawa is one of several refuge complexes around the country to be chosen for a pilot project to train volunteers to use GPS units to map outbreaks of invasive plants, with an eye toward developing control strategies.
In related news, Brewer will be the guest speaker at the annual meeting and dinner of the Toledo Naturalists' Association, scheduled for Saturday at the Toledo Zoo Lodge.
His topic will be new projects and challenges at the refuge complex. Social hour is at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., meeting at 7:15 p.m., and the presentation at 8 p.m. Call Nancy Bucher for other details, at 419-878-3141.
----------
Trapping privileges at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge complex will be offered for bid Nov. 22 for a refuge trapping season set for Dec. 4 to March 15.
Trappers may take mink, muskrat, raccoon, fox, skunk, and opossum. Viewing of trapping units may be done Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Copies of maps, rules, and bid applications are available at refuge headquarters, 14000 West State Rt. 2, Oak Harbor.
Bids are due by 2 p.m. Nov. 22, when they will be opened. For other details, call Ottawa, 419-898-0014.
----------
Three southern Ohio state wildlife areas have been expanded through a cooperative effort by the National Wild Turkey Federation and Ohio Division of Wildlife.
The Ohio Chapter of NWTF donated $250,000 to the division to help purchase 168 additional acres for the 14,300-acre Egypt Valley State Wildlife Area in Belmont and Guernsey counties and 255 acres for the 5,421-acre Cooper Hollow State Wildlife Area in Jackson County. The funds also helped established a new 376-acre Turkey Ridge State Wildlife Area in Vinton County.
Since 1986 the NWTF Ohio Chapter has contributed more than $1.7 million toward division efforts to acquire more than 68,000 acres of wildlife habitat. In all, the state wildlife division manages 181,900 of wildlife areas, not including the new additions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Pollick is The Blade's outdoor writer
» E-mail him at spollick@theblade.com
» Read more Steve Pollick columns at www.toledoblade.com/pollick
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041114/COLUMNIST22/411140349