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It took a little longer than anticipated, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently completed the purchase of 75.4 acres of Brice Prairie land from the Mathy Construction Co. to make way for a new regional FWS office and recreational area.
The land, which is now part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, is being used as farmland but will eventually be restored to sand prairie. After restoration, it will include walking trails with interpretative signing, according to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sale of the land, which was part of a highly publicized debate in 2003 over Mathy's plans to build an asphalt plant, was proposed in 2006, but money for the sale could not be found.
Under the current farm lease, which expires in late January 2009, no hunting is permitted. Because the Fish and Wildlife Service assumed the terms of the lease, no hunting or trapping will be permitted this fall.
The subject of future hunting and trapping on the land will be addressed in an Environmental Assessment due later this year.
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