WINONA, Minn. — Eleven boat landings along the Mississippi River, including the McNally and Verchota landings, were closed and barricaded Tuesday after the federal government shut down.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s facilities, along with the entire Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, will be closed until the government reopens. Only a few limited functions will continue, mainly involved with emergency response and protecting government property.
Winona district staff sent out a news release Tuesday about the shutdown, but were predictably unavailable for further comment — they were forced to leave the office, and won’t be allowed to check voicemail during the shutdown.
Fish and Wildlife Service acting communications chief Bruce Decker said that just like national parks, Fish and Wildlife Service properties and recreation areas will be closed to the public, and only a minimal amount of staff will continue to work during the shutdown.
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Decker provided a list of impacts of the shutdown on the service, including:
- All 561 national wildlife refuges are closed to public access. Visitor centers and other buildings are closed.
- All activities on refuge lands and in public buildings are canceled, including hunting and fishing.
- More than 7,000 service employees have been furloughed.
The shutdown’s impact on commercial use of the river will be less pronounced. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Paul District spokesman George Stringham said both lock and dam and dredging operations to keep the channel clear will continue during the shutdown, as they have been deemed vital government services. The locks will also be open for recreational boaters.