Conservation Groups File to Pause Transmission Line Construction to Protect Wildlife Refuge

[UngulateNerd92]

Court should decide case before more construction causes irreversible damage to the Wisconsin Driftless Area and the Upper Mississippi River National Fish & Wildlife Refuge.

Today, four conservation groups – the National Wildlife Refuge Association, Driftless Area Land Conservancy, Wisconsin Wildlife Federation and Defenders of Wildlife – filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in their lawsuits to temporarily halt construction of a new high-voltage transmission line that would threaten the protected Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. The requested preliminary injunction would continue until the court can decide the case on the merits later this year or early next year.

Conservation Groups File to Pause Transmission Line Construction to Protect Wildlife Refuge

 

[UngulateNerd92]

@birdsandbats I knew you would be interested in this story.

 

[birdsandbats]

Yeah, I’ve been following this story for a while.

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Yeah, I’ve been following this story for a while.

Have you personally visited the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?

 

[birdsandbats]

Have you personally visited the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge and Wisconsin’s Driftless Area?

I've haven't been to UMNWR (yet) but I've been to lots of other places in the Driftless Area. The whole area is a big migration corridor for large bird species that could easily get tangles up in these power lines - Turkey Vultures (over a quarter of TUVU in the Midwest breed in the Driftless Area), Tundra Swans, and Sandhill Cranes are among the most notable but there's plenty of other species it could affect, too. The power line would go through a lot of important wildlife areas, so there's really no way collisions with large birds can be avoided. In addition, the whole area is know for it's scenery, and a giant power line could drop tourism numbers. In summary, this is an ecological and economic disaster.

By the way, the whole of the Driftless Area is amazing. Beautiful landscapes, remnant prairies, and ancient mountain ranges covered in beautiful forests. If you ever get a chance I highly recommend visiting.