2023 Revenue & Expenditures

Government funding does not cover all that is necessary to manage a refuge. As a result, wildlife refuges depend on “Friends” groups like Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (FONWR) to fill in the gaps, providing financial and volunteer support. In 2023, support of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge through all revenue streams totaled $1,039,945.

About $422,347 of FONWR expenditures went directly to helping the Refuge Complex and community in the areas of conservation, wildlife protection, research, law enforcement, and education. Refuge support includes items such as visitor access and maintenance projects, intern stipends, and field trip transportation. This year refuge support included $271,698 from grants and cooperative agreements for projects such as the Career Pathways Program and the restoration agreement through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.


Summary of Friends Accomplishments in 2023
  • Funded 6 internships that assisted refuge staff with a combined total of 2,920 hours of work and provided career development training opportunities for interns
  • Continued expanding the Friends Career Pathways Program to provide additional opportunities to outstanding interns and selected two Level 3 participants who contributed 4,160 hours of work for community engagement, intern recruitment, and invasive species projects
  • Added approximately 27.5 acres to Ottawa NWR through two land sales to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
  • Worked with the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to restore 215 acres of emergent wetland and 74 acres of upland pollinator habitat on private lands, and treated 450 acres of coastal wetland habitat for invasive species with an aerial herbicide application
  • Purchased and planted over 250 native pollinator plants
  • Led over 150 refuge tours on the electric shuttle that the Friends purchased in 2022
  • Installed a livestream camera at Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge viewable on the Friends website
  • Supported the Glass City Bird Crew Collision Monitoring Project in Downtown Toledo through the purchase of supplies and community engagement
  • Sponsored the Earth Heart Farms Fall Field Days event by providing volunteer guides and a tent for participant activities
  • Purchased gravel for roadwork at Nehls and Marinewood Units to improve visitor access
  • Provided funding for facilities maintenance including Visitor Center building repairs, pollinator garden pond replacement, cleaning contract for the Visitor Center and outdoor restrooms
  • Provided funding for trails and grounds maintenance including signs for the Tree Trail and Fox Nature Preserve, a concrete walkway at Nehls Preserve, and pump maintenance
​Without the generous donations that we receive from the Friends group, and the work performed by countless volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish our mission! By working together, we have successfully installed ADA accessible fishing platforms, made improvements to our wildlife drive, repaired our boardwalk, added water recreation access, as well as installed interpretive signage, and increased trail maintenance at some of our satellite properties.  All of these tasks are completed with the help of our Friends group and volunteers, working side by side with refuge staff. Thank you all for your support of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge!
​                       --Scott Bryant, Refuge Administrative Officer
Here is the breakdown of the expenditures for 2023:
  • Maintenance: $101,788, including repairs to properties, structures, vehicles, and equipment
  • Supplies: $32,572, including office and field supplies and visitor/volunteer services supplies for all programs
  • Fixed Expenses: $42,751, including utilities, phones, water, propane, trash removal, etc.
  • Fuel: $18,322 to fuel vehicles and equipment for all programs
  • Miscellaneous Expenses: $8,143 for training, travel, etc.