Pre- and Post-Conference Trips
Listed below are several possible story-generating adventures in North Dakota.
North Dakota Tourism can help make arrangements for your adventure, whether it’s setting up guides or equipment, or just pointing you in the right direction and getting out of the way.
Regardless of your chosen method of adventure, don’t let this opportunity pass you by.
NORTH DAKOTA DEPT. OF TOURISM TRIPS
Free Fishing Trip for 12; Hurry to sign up for Devils Lake Trip
What outdoor writer wouldn’t want an all-expense-paid fishing trip to Devils Lake the day after the OWAA conference concludes in Bismarck-Mandan? OWAA member Jason Mitchell and Devils Lake fishing guide Kyle Blanchfield will accompany 12 OWAA writers on a day-long fishing expedition from Bismarck to Devils Lake and back on Wednesday, June 25. Bus transportation, licenses, fishing gears and food are provided. As an added bonus, Ramkota Hotel has extended its conference room rate one more night to accommodate the lucky dozen. How do you sign up? Quickly. Only the first 12 OWAA members to contact North Dakota Tourism Outdoor Promotions Director Mark Zimmerman at 701-328-2509 or mzimmerman@nd.gov will have a spot reserved on the charter. Don’t miss this opportunity to test one of the region’s great fisheries. Participants must be registered for OWAA’s conference.
NORTH DAKOTA BADLANDS
Visit Theodore Roosevelt National Park and see why Roosevelt was so passionate about conservation efforts in this area.
See the Badlands by horseback, as settlers, American Indians and soldiers did years ago.
Visit the Elkhorn Ranch site or canoe the Little Missouri River, which meanders from northern Wyoming to its confluence at Lake Sakakawea.
Story ideas: Balancing energy development with wildlife and wilderness conservation in grasslands and national parks; Maah Daah Hey Trail, Mecca for mountain bikers, horseback riders; Badlands mountain lions, five years ago, nobody admitted they existed, now there are seasons.
NORTH DAKOTA OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
- Mountain biking on the Maah Daah Hey Trail.
- Golf some of the top-rated courses in the U.S.: Bully Pulpit in Medora; Hawktree in Bismarck; Links of North Dakota near Williston. Or play all three in a golfer’s dream package called the Triple Challenge
- Canoeing the Missouri River from just below Garrison Dam to Bismarck or points south. Or drop you watercraft in Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest lakes in the U.S. wholly within one state.
- Hike the trails in the Badlands or some of the state’s 63 wildlife refuges and 14 state parks.
- Unleash your inner dirt-bikers. KTM in Mandan offers multi-day off-road motorcycle tours. (Must have motorcycle operator license).
Story ideas: The Maah Daah Hey Trail has been named an EPIC Ride by IMBA and it’s a hiker’s dream; Back home you have to make a tee time several days out to play the local muni. Here, call a couple hours ahead and get on some courses rated as best in the country by Golf Digest. Bully Pulpit in the Badlands at Medora, Hawktree in the rolling river bluffs north of Bismarck, and the classic Links of North Dakota on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea provide unique challengers to all skill levels; Take a dirt bike expedition along the Custer Trail to see what the lengedary soldier saw on his way to the Little Bighorn; How has Missouri River management affected water recreation and municipal water supply levels along the Missouri River; Greed vs. need, shipping or drinking water.
NORTH DAKOTA REFUGES
North Dakota has 63 national wildlife refuges, more than any other state.
Some of the major refuges in this area are Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge, Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge; Lost Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Story ideas: Is climate change real, and if it is, how it affective migratory bird patterns. Many geese stay in the area longer than ever before, why aren’t they going south; Why did the pelicans return to Chase Lake; the Central Flyway: Waterfowl Superhighway; Out-of-state versus in-state hunting interests.
NORTH DAKOTA WATER EXCURSIONS
Lake Sakakawea has more shoreline than the state of California. And it’s all in North Dakota.
Devils Lake is a recreationist’s dream come true. Fish year-round, boat, swim, water ski, camp.
The Missouri River provides drinking water and recreation to thousands in North Dakota.
Story ideas: The Corps’ water management plan of the Missouri River has left Lake Sakakawea 25 feet below average and threatened the fishery. Spend an afternoon on Lake Sakakawea with Assistant State Engineer Todd Sando, avid fisherman and expert on the immediate and long range impact of current water management policies for the entire Missouri River basin. How will it and those who rely on the lake for their livelihood survive; Even down 25 feet, the lake is still third-largest manmade lake in U.S. and a draw to summer enthusiasts; Garrison Dam is fifth-largest earthen dam in the U.S. It backs up Lake Sakakawea; while western North Dakota struggles with drought, Devils Lake has doubled in size in seven years; Perch Express is an Amtrak that brings ice fishermen to Devils Lake in the winter; Ride the Lewis and Clark Riverboat for a relaxing excursion on the Missouri River at Bismarck-Mandan; visit with conservation experts on the future of the Missouri River as political forces tug at its water.
If you are interested in one of the activities above, or additional opportunities in North Dakota, contact Mark Zimmerman at North Dakota Tourism, 701-328-2509, 800-435-5663 or at mzimmerman@nd.gov.
TOURS OFFERED BY OUR CONFERENCE SPONSORS
Pre-Conference Energy Tour
Sponsored by Basin Electric Power Cooperative
Friday, June 20
Depart Best Western Ramkota Hotel 9:00 a.m.
Energy, how we make it and use it, looms huge in America’s future. This tour is the perfect opportunity to view the power industry first-hand, and better understand what it takes to light up and power your life, and what it will take to address climate change. Complimentary lunch will be served at the Dakota Gasification Company's Great Plains Synfuels Plant. OWAA members and spouses are welcome on this all-expense-paid tour. To assure your seat please reserve it by contacting OWAA HQ by May 1, 2008.
North Dakota Waterfowl Breeding Grounds Tour
Sponsored by Delta Waterfowl
Friday, June 20 and Wednesday, June 25
Depart Best Western Ramkota Hotel 9:00 a.m.
These day-long tours, sponsored by Delta Waterfowl, will take you through the Missouri Coteau to Delta’s predator block in Cando, N.D. Rob Olson, John Devney, Tori McCormick and Dan Nelson of Delta Waterfowl will be your hosts. At Cando we'll be joined by our scientific director Dr. Frank Rohwer of LSU and some of our students conducting research in that area. A representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be also be available. There will be plenty of photo opportunities of ducks, wetlands, grasslands, ducklings, nests--and ample opportunity for interviews with Rob, Frank and the students. Topics of discussion will be threats to the prairie breeding grounds, predators, loss of CRP, loss of wetlands and loss of native prairie. To assure your seat please reserve it by contacting OWAA HQ by May 1, 2008.
Grassland Tour of Coteau Ranch
Sponsored by Ducks Unlimited
Wednesday, June 25
Depart Best Western Ramkota Hotel 7:30 a.m.
Ducks Unlimited (DU) is offering a half-day excursion on Wednesday, June 25 to the Coteau Ranch where attendees will explore one of the Prairie Pothole Region’s (PPR) legendary waterfowl breeding areas, the Missouri Coteau. DU Director of Conservation Planning Dr. Scott Stephens will explain the importance of large, grassland-dominated landscapes, describe ongoing waterfowl research and guide visitors to nesting sites and brood rearing wetlands. Regional Biologist Paul Bultsma will lead visitors to sites on the ranch that illustrate prairie management techniques and how cattle ranching can go hand-in-hand with conserving duck nesting habitat. The DU tour will make several stops on the way to the ranch that illustrate the impacts of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), one of the nation’s most important conservation policy programs. Writers will visit a property restored through CRP, a property converted from CRP to cropland and a site that was formerly native prairie that could have been saved by a Sodsaver provision in the farm bill. The tour will leave from the Ramkota Hotel at 7:30 am and return at 1:00 pm. Box lunches will be provided. To reserve your space, contact Jennifer P. Kross (701-355-3515; jkross@ducks.org) or Becky Jones Mahlum (701-355-3507; bjonesmahlum@ducks.org).
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Tour
Join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a tour of the prairies and to help celebrate 50 years of the Small Wetlands Program. The Service will host a field trip for outdoor writers on Monday, June 23, 2008, from 6 a.m.-9 a.m. (before the shooting program). This field trip will highlight the Small Wetlands Program and take participants through the Coteau Slope and the Missouri Coteau and visit Waterfowl Production Areas, a National Wildlife Refuge, wetland and grassland easement lands and hopefully see waterfowl and other wildlife. On August 1, 1958, Congress amended the Duck Stamp Act to spend funds to acquire Waterfowl Production Areas and small, isolated pothole areas. Since then, the Small Wetlands Program has conserved nearly 3 million acres in the Prairie Pothole Region for waterfowl production. Tour leaves from Entrance #4 at 6 a.m. To register for this field trip, please contact Jackie Jacobson by June 16, 2008, at 701-442-5474, ext. 17 or jackie_jacobson@fws.gov.
New pre-conference trip: NRCS Tour of Gelbvieh Ranch
Overview of Tour: The Natural Resources Conservation Service launched a new national campaign this spring, titled “Conservation…Our Purpose. Our Passion” to help bring greater awareness of the critical importance agricultural conservation plays to our environment. Since 70 percent of the land in the U.S. is in private hands, this is especially important for agricultural producers on whose land live all varieties of wildlife thanks to habitat conservation programs and practices implemented by our Nation’s farmers and ranchers. The NRCS campaign tells this story through farmers’ and ranchers’ conservation successes. Gabe Brown, native of Bismarck, ND, is one of eight farmers/ranchers from across the Nation highlighted in this campaign. The first stop of this tour will feature information on soil health, no-till farming, planned grazing systems, cover crops, and of course, wildlife habitat. Gabe is adamant that a successful ranch starts with healthy soils. He has practiced zero-till farming since 1994 and is a strong advocate, crediting zero-till for improving soil health, thus increasing yields while enabling him to decrease inputs. This, along with increased organic matter and litter on the soil surface, improves soil health, water infiltration and utilization for a positive impact on the environment.
Wildlife species have increased, both in diversity and population, since Gabe began the zero-till cropping system. Wildlife diversity and population numbers have also increased dramatically with the grazing system and zero-till cropping system. The Browns carefully consider and include wildlife in all of their management practices. The Browns take great pride in the fact that although they are located only two miles from the city limits of Bismarck, wildlife is not only abundant, it flourishes. Today, ringneck pheasant, sharptail grouse, Hungarian partridge, Canada geese, many different species of ducks, a wide array of songbirds, as well as several species of raptors make their home on the ranch. Whitetail deer abound and it is not uncommon to see over 20 of them any given day on just the home section. Many other smaller mammals such as mink, weasel, raccoons, coyotes, and fox abound as well.
The second stop showcases the NRCS Bismarck Plant Materials Center which serves Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The Center offers technical assistance for native landscaping, windbreaks, revegetating saline-alkaline soils, improving productivity of range and pasture lands, enhancing wildlife habitat and wetlands, and enhancing native prairie ecosystems. The Center has released over 40 improved conservation plants including varieties of blue grama, buffalograss, western wheatgrass, purple prairie clover, narrow-leaved coneflower, stiff sunflower and silver buffaloberry.
We believe this tour will offer OWAA members an opportunity for an orientation to Bismarck on this tour that will be both informative and enjoyable. Bring your cameras!
Sponsored by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Friday, June 20
1:30 p.m. Depart from Best Western Ramkota Hotel -.
1:40 p.m. Arrive at Gabe Brown’s Ranch (approximately 3 miles east of Bismarck on Hwy 10)
1:40 – 2:40 p.m. Tour conservation projects, wildlife habitat, farming and ranching operation
2:40 p.m. Load bus and depart from ranch to return to Bismarck
2:50 p.m. Arrive at Bismarck Plant Materials Center (3308 University Drive, Bismarck)
2:50 – 3:40 p.m. Tour USDA NRCS Plant Materials Center
3:40 p.m. Refreshments served at PMC office building
4:00 p.m. Load bus to return to Ramkota Hotel
4:10 p.m. Arrive at Hotel
To sign up for this tour, contact Arlene Deutscher at the NRCS at: Arlene.Deutscher@nd.usda.gov
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