,,ii #aacth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bhde ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ag 7legislative day1 ,september #af71 #bjad ,mr4 ,harkin introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,a ,,bill ,to establish the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes ,national ,wildlife ,refuge4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the area of the ,state of ,iowa known as the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes and consisting primarily of the ,willow ,creek watershed in ,greene ,county offers exceptional potential for restoration into a bountiful native wildlife habitat area2 7#b7 ongoing restoration and preservation of this wildlife habitat area will significantly enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation in this region1 including waterfowl and upland hunting1 wildlife viewing1 and hiking2 7#c7 the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes area is located at the southwestern edge of the ,des ,moines ,lobe left by glaciers #ab1jjj years ago2 7#d7 the sloughs and grassland offer a substantial oasis of both wetland and grassland habitat at the southwestern boundary of the most heavily cropped region in ,iowa2 7#e7 because of the location of the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes at the edge of the multistate and international region known as the ,prairie ,potholes ,region1 and along important migratory flyways1 the restoration and preservation of the area is critical to providing wildlife habitat across the full extent of the ,prairie ,potholes ,region2 7#f7 this #bc1ejj-;acre area has for years been designated by the ,prairie ,pothole ,joint ,venture as a priority area for restoration and preservation because of the importance of the area to wildlife1 facilitating gradual public land acquisition for habitat restoration2 7#g7 the area already includes the #b1acd-;acre ,dunbar ,slough wetland complex of ,federal and ,state land managed as popular wildlife and hunting areas serving ,carroll1 ,greene1 and ,guthrie ,counties and beyond2 7#h7 national wildlife refuges increasingly follow a mosaic pattern with a core of publicly held land surrounded by privately held land also located within the refuge boundary2 7#i7 private ownership and uses are not affected for private land within the designated boundaries of the refuge1 but private landowners may be provided increased opportunities for partnering on conservation or restoration practices2 7#aj7 restoration and preservation of the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes area will benefit hundreds of birds1 mammals1 butterflies1 reptiles1 and amphibians that have been classified as species of greatest conservation need1 including the endangered ,blanding's turtle2 7#aa7 restoration of grassland and wetland in the area will contribute to improved flood control and water quality downstream1 as the ,middle ,raccoon ,river is the major water source for the ,des ,moines metropolitan region and other communities2 7#ab7 the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes area offers unique recreational appeal because the area is adjacent to the existing ,whiterock ,conservancy1 a #d1cjj-;acre land trust dedicated to conserving and protecting the natural resources of ,iowa and engaging the public with the landscape2 7#ac7 ,whiterock ,conservancy offers outdoor recreation and education and includes a major new ,backcountry ,trail complex2 7#ad7 the proximity of the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes to the largest metropolitan area in ,iowa adds to the ability of the area to provide natural resource experiences to a broad community2 and 7#ae7 the area is already attracting cyclists1 and that appeal will grow with ongoing development of the cross-country ,american ,discovery ,trail transecting the area4 #c4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,refuge ,the term ,refuge means the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes ,national ,wildlife ,refuge established under section #d4 7#b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #d4 ,establishment and purpose of refuge 7a7 ,establishment 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes ,national ,wildlife ,refuge1 consisting of approximately #bc1ejj acres of ,federal land1 water1 and interests in land and water within the boundaries depicted on the map entitled ,southern ,prairie ,potholes ,project ,area and dated ,august #bf1 #bjad4 7#b7 ,boundary revisions ,the ,secretary shall make such minor revisions of the boundaries of the ,refuge as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of the ,refuge or to facilitate the acquisition of property within the ,refuge4 7#c7 ,availability of map ,the ,secretary shall keep the map referred to in paragraph 7#a7 available for inspection in appropriate offices of the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the ,refuge are-- 7#a7 to enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation1 including waterfowl and upland hunting1 hiking1 native habitat exploration1 and wildlife viewing2 7#b7 to provide for the restoration or preservation of ,refuge land to native wetland and grassland habitats and landscapes2 7#c7 to provide for the restoration and conservation of native plants and animal communities on suitable sites in the ,southern ,prairie ,potholes area1 including the protection of threatened and endangered species and the restoration of extirpated species2 7#d7 to provide critical travel and nesting habitat for migratory birds2 7#e7 to provide opportunities to private landowners to access technical or financial assistance for the voluntary restoration of the land of the private landowners for the benefit of fish and wildlife2 7#f7 to provide for outdoor recreation1 including hunting1 hiking1 paddling1 and wildlife viewing to the public2 and 7#g7 to facilitate the education of the public1 especially young people1 about nature1 the environment1 and the conservation of the natural resources4 7c7 ,effective date 7#a7 ,in general ,the establishment of the ,refuge shall take effect on the date on which the ,secretary publishes a notice that sufficient property has been acquired by the ,united ,states within the boundaries described in subsection 7a77#a7 to constitute an area that can be efficiently managed as a ,national ,wildlife ,refuge4 7#b7 ,publication ,the ,secretary shall publish the notice described in paragraph 7#a7 in the ,federal ,register and publications of local circulation in the vicinity of the area within the boundaries described in subsection 7a77#a74 #e4 ,administration of ,refuge 7a7 ,in general ,subject to the purposes described in section #d7;b71 the ,secretary shall administer all land1 water1 and interests in land and water acquired under this ,act in accordance with the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system ,administration ,act of #aiff 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh;dd et seq474 7b7 ,additional authority ,the ,secretary may use such additional statutory authority as may be available for the conservation of fish and wildlife1 and the provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities1 as the ,secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this ,act4 7c7 ,priority uses ,in providing opportunities for compatible fish- and wildlife-oriented recreation1 the ,secretary1 in accordance with paragraphs 7#c7 and 7#d7 of section #d7;a7 of the ,national ,wildlife ,refuge ,system ,administration ,act of #aiif 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #ffh;dd7a771 shall ensure that hunting1 fishing1 wildlife observation and photography1 and environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses of the ,refuge4 7d7 ,volunteers and partnerships ,the ,secretary shall encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service1 local communities1 conservation organizations1 and other non-,federal entities to promote public awareness1 conservation1 and priority uses of the resources of the ,refuge4 #f4 ,acquisition of land and water 7a7 ,in general ,subject to subsection 7c7 and the availability of appropriations1 the ,secretary may acquire up to #bc1ejj acres of land and water1 or interests in land and water1 within the boundaries of the ,refuge as described in section #d7;a77#a74 7b7 ,inclusion in refuge ,any land1 water1 or interests acquired by the ,secretary under this section shall be part of the ,refuge4 7c7 ,manner of acquisition ,all acquisition of land or water under this section shall be made in a voluntary manner from willing sellers only4 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this ,act4