Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act
PL 107-91 (H.R.1230), enacted 12/21/2001

115 STAT. 894 
PUBLIC LAW 107-91—DEC. 21, 2001 
Public Law 107-91 
107th Congress 
Dec. 21, 2001 
{H.R. 1230] 
Detroit River 
International 
Wildlife Refuge 
Establishment 
Act 
16 u s e 668dd 
note. 
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-
Hfe 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, £md many islands. These nation-
ally and internationally significant habitats and ecological fea-
tures attract as many as 29 species of waterfowl and 65 kinds 
offish. 
(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 Fljrways, 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 import£mce 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 £uid 
south each yeaoc to rest and feed in beds of water celery found 
in the region. 
PUBLIC LAW 107-91—DEC. 21, 2001 
115 STAT. 895 
(8) The internatioiiEil importance of the Lower Detroit River 
area is mEinifested in the United States congressional designa-
tion of the 460-acre Wyandotte National Wildlife Refuge. 
(9) Canada's Canaird 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 internationsJ 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 additioned $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 £in internationally renowned sport fishery estimated to 
bring in $1,000,000 to the economy of communities adong the 
lower Detroit River each spring. 
(12) All of these natural resource vgdues £ind 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 remsdning 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. DEFTNITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(1) The term "Refuge" meeuis 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 Isinds and waters 
within the area described in section 5(a). 
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall 
be mainaged Eire 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, 
115 STAT. 896 
PUBLIC LAW 107-91—DEC. 21, 2001 
wildlife, and plant species) both in the United States and 
Canada. 
(3) To facilitate partnerships Eimong the United States Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Canadian national and provincial authori-
ties. State and local governments, local communities in the 
United States emd 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 
Michig£ui 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 exchemge 
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 
Deadline. 
of Lake St. Clair, for potential inclusion in the Refuge. Not later 
Reports. 
than 18 months after the date of the enactment of the Act, the 
Secretary shedl 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, £uid 
PUBLIC LAW 107-91—DEC. 21, 2001 
115 STAT. 897 
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 £ind 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 £iny politicgQ 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 Internationed 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 boundsiries 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; £ind 
(3) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the study 
under section 5(f). 
Approved December 21, 2001. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1230 (S. 835): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-270 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 107-112 accompanying S. 835 (Comm. on Environment 
and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 147 (2001): 
Nov. 27, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 7, considered and passed Senate. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTL\L DOCUMENTS, Vol. 37 (2001): 
Dec. 21, Presidential statement.