H. R. 1230
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and one
An Act
To provide for the establishment of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
in the State of Michigan, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Detroit River International Wild-
life Refuge Establishment Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Detroit River, one of North America’s greatest
rivers, was created some 14,000 years ago during the retreat
of the Wisconsin Glacier.
(2) The present river channel, established when falling
water levels permitted erosion of the Lake Plain and moraines,
is a connecting channel linking the Upper and Lower Great
Lakes, as well as linking the United States to Canada.
(3) The Lower Detroit River ecosystem is diverse with
a number of distinct channels, numerous shoals that support
dense stands of aquatic plants, and many islands. These nation-
ally and internationally significant habitats and ecological fea-
tures attract as many as 29 species of waterfowl and 65 kinds
of fish.
(4) The Detroit River is a major migration corridor for
fish, butterflies, raptors, and other birds, in addition to water-
fowl. Over 300 species of birds have been documented in the
Detroit-Windsor area, of which about 150 species breed in the
immediate area.
(5) Because the Great Lakes are situated at the intersection
of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, the Detroit River is
an important waterfowl migration corridor. 3,000,000 ducks,
geese, swans, and coots migrate annually through the Great
Lakes region.
(6) The importance of this corridor is recognized in the
Canada-United States North American Waterfowl Management
Plan that has identified the Detroit River as part of one of
34 Waterfowl Habitat Areas of Major Concern in the United
States and Canada.
(7) Some 300,000 diving ducks stop in the Lower Detroit
River on their fall migration from Canada to the east and
south each year to rest and feed in beds of water celery found
in the region.
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(8) The international importance of the Lower Detroit River
area is manifested in the United States congressional designa-
tion of the 460-acre Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge.
(9) Canada’s Canard River Marsh Complex is an inter-
nationally significant waterfowl staging area which is one of
the main resting and feeding areas for canvasbacks migrating
from their nesting grounds in the Canadian prairies to the
East Coast. Many over-winter in the area as well.
(10) The diversity of biota and habitats in the Lower Detroit
River ecosystem provides substantial benefits to the over
5,000,000 people who live in the vicinity. The Lower Detroit
River has an international reputation for duck hunting. On
an economic basis, retail sales related to waterfowl hunting
in Michigan were estimated in 1991 to be $20,100,000. During
the same year birding, photography, and other nonconsumptive
uses of waterfowl contributed an additional $192,800,000 in
Michigan.
(11) More than 1,000,000 pleasure boats are registered
in Michigan and about half of those are used on the Detroit
River and Lake St. Clair, in part to fish for the estimated
10,000,000 walleye that migrate to the Detroit River each
spring from Lake Erie to spawn. These walleye have helped
create an internationally renowned sport fishery estimated to
bring in $1,000,000 to the economy of communities along the
lower Detroit River each spring.
(12) All of these natural resource values and socioeconomic
benefits were acclaimed when the Detroit River was designated
an American Heritage River in 1998. The Detroit River is
also a Canadian Heritage River, making it the first inter-
national heritage river system in the world.
(13) The Detroit River has lost over 95 percent of its
coastal wetland habitats and despite increased awareness and
supporting science of their importance, habitats continue to
be destroyed and degraded.
(14) Protection of remaining wildlife habitats and enhance-
ment of degraded wildlife habitats are essential to sustain
the quality of life enjoyed by so many living along the Detroit
River corridor.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ‘‘Refuge’’ means the Detroit River Inter-
national Wildlife Refuge established by section 5.
(2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the
Interior.
(3) The term ‘‘Detroit River’’ means those lands and waters
within the area described in section 5(a).
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall
be managed are as follows:
(1) To protect the remaining high-quality fish and wildlife
habitats of the Detroit River before they are lost to further
development and to restore and enhance degraded wildlife habi-
tats associated with the Detroit River.
(2) To assist in international efforts to conserve, enhance,
and restore the native aquatic and terrestrial community
characteristics of the Detroit River (including associated fish,
H. R. 1230—3
wildlife, and plant species) both in the United States and
Canada.
(3) To facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service, Canadian national and provincial authori-
ties, State and local governments, local communities in the
United States and in Canada, conservation organizations, and
other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the
resources of the Detroit River.
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.
(a) BOUNDARIES.—There is hereby established the Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge, consisting of the lands and waters
owned or managed by the Secretary pursuant to this Act in the
State of Michigan within the area extending from the point in
Michigan directly across the river from northernmost point of Ojib-
way Shores to the southern boundary of the Sterling State Park,
as depicted upon a map entitled ‘‘Detroit River International Wild-
life Refuge Proposed’’, dated July 31, 2001, which shall be available
for inspection in appropriate offices of the United States Fish and
Wildlife Service.
(b) EXISTING REFUGE LANDS.—The Wyandotte National Wildlife
Refuge is hereby included within, and shall be a part of, the
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. All references to the
Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge shall hereafter be treated as
references to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.
(c) BOUNDARY REVISIONS.—The Secretary may make such revi-
sions 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 Refuge.
(d) ACQUISITION.—The Secretary is authorized to acquire by
donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange
the lands and waters, or interests therein (including conservation
easements), within the boundaries of the Refuge.
(e) TRANSFERS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.—Any Federal property
located within the boundaries of the Refuge which is under the
administrative jurisdiction of another department or agency of the
United States may, with the concurrence of the head of admin-
istering department or agency, be transferred without consideration
to the administrative jurisdiction of the Secretary for the purposes
of this Act.
(f) STUDY OF ASSOCIATED AREA.—The Secretary (acting through
the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service) shall
conduct a study of fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terres-
trial communities of the north reach of the Detroit River, from
the northernmost point of Ojibway Shores north to the mouth
of Lake St. Clair, for potential inclusion in the Refuge. Not later
than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Act, the
Secretary shall complete such study and submit a report containing
the results thereof to the Congress.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer all federally
owned lands, waters, and interests therein that are within the
boundaries of the Refuge in accordance with the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and
this Act. The Secretary may use such additional statutory authority
as may be available for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and
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the provision of fish and wildlife dependent recreational opportuni-
ties as the Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes
of this Act.
(b) PRIORITY USES.—In providing opportunities for compatible
fish and wildlife dependent recreation, the Secretary, in accordance
with paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife
Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)),
shall ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photog-
raphy, and environmental education and interpretation are the
priority public uses of the Refuge.
(c) 
COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS
REGARDING
NONFEDERAL
LANDS.—The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agree-
ments with the State of Michigan, or any political subdivision
thereof, and with any other person or entity for the management
in a manner consistent with this Act of lands that are owned
by such State, subdivision, or other person or entity and located
within the boundaries of the Refuge and to promote public aware-
ness of the resources of the Detroit River International Wildlife
Refuge and encourage public participation in the conservation of
those resources.
(d) USE OF EXISTING GREENWAY AUTHORITY.—The Secretary
shall encourage the State of Michigan to use existing authorities
under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA–
21) to provide funding for acquisition and development of trails
within the boundaries of the Refuge.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Department
of the Interior—
(1) such sums as may be necessary for the acquisition
of lands and waters within the Refuge;
(2) such sums as may be necessary for the development,
operation, and maintenance of the Refuge; and
(3) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the study
under section 5(f).
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.