USGS Home
Contact USGS
Search USGS

Director's Office

Following development of a policy on names of organizational units of the Biological Resources Division, Northern Prairie successfully appealed to return to its original name, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. This move was in recognition of the long history of the name, its explicit recognition of the geographical location of the Center, and the emphasis upon "research" as a function of the organization. We had previously received numerous comments from ex-staff, emeritus staff, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and other government of this move. We do not intend to imply to anyone that we are striking for the status quo or that we are enamored of the past with this name change. Instead, we view it as confirmation of our long-standing commitment to issues in the Great Plains, and our enthusiasm for supporting the programs of land management agencies of the Department of the Interior.

Northern Prairie continued its interaction with the Western Governors' Association by actively participating in the Great Plains Partnership. As a spinoff from this interaction, Northern Prairie, with financial support from the Environmental Protection Agency, has accepted responsibility for maintaining the Great Plains International Data Network and the Home Page of the Great Plains Partnership on the Internet. We will be developing a World Wide Web resource for all of the Plains with the same attention to detail that we have so far applied to our own Home Page (see below).

As all of our good friends know, it is not possible to make a mistake in traveling and then suddenly end up in North Dakota. Such a terminus must have been a plan from the outset. Thus, we have pursued opportunities to invite persons to visit the Center whenever possible. In addition to those who came primarily to provide guest lectures on scientific issues, USGS Director Gordie Eaton, Chief Hydrologist Bob Hirsch, Central Regional Geologist Tom Fouch, Central Regional Biologist Larry Ludke, Deputy Regional Biologist Phil Wondra, and Associate Regional Biologist Russ Livingston all made it to North Dakota before the snow arrived. A USGS review team for procurement issues, a Central Region Administrative Review Team, and several members of USGS Central Region Operations also visited.

The Center's property in Jamestown (one square mile plus buildings) was transferred from the Fish and Wildlife Service to the Geological Survey. The buildings at Woodworth will be transferred to USGS at a later point, when the Fish and Wildlife Service is able to move out of the research facilities at the old Woodworth Station into new facilities to the east of the original offices and residence.

This year saw continued efforts in the Director's Office to integrate the Center's program with USGS, to become acquainted with USGS programs in North Dakota, and especially to focus on continued work in support of sister agencies in the Department of the Interior.

Facilities Management

Work was initiated on a laboratory/dormitory project in mid-summer. We have been historically hindered in our ability to use volunteers, Student Conservation Association scientists, and visiting scientists in our work by our inability to find housing for them. This complex has a spacious dry laboratory that we intend to use largely for botanical work, and a dormitory complete with four bedrooms, a lounge, kitchen, several baths, laundry, and storage. We have built it just east of the parking lot behind Bue Lab, on a north-south axis with lab to the south.

Damage to the Center from floods in the spring and from a severe hailstorm in late summer were offset with emergency funds supplied by the BRD Central Office in Reston. The hail destroyed every shingled roof on the grounds and demolished windows and bodies of most vehicles parked outside. Nothing can stand up to 4.5 inch pieces of ice falling from 30,000 feet.

We installed a new automated telephone system this year. It seems to have removed the random factors that plagued our previous system.