2019 Friends 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 2019, support of Friends of Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge through all revenue streams totaled $325,521. A total of nearly $70,000 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, the Friends were proud to purchase two parcels of land: the 40-acre Fox Unit and a .56-acre parcel that will become part of the Kontz Unit. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is planning to purchase these properties from the Friends to become part of the Refuge complex. (See the Joan and Richard Kimple Conservation Fund for land acquisition and restoration.) 
The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex had an operating budget of $318,000 for 2019.
Here is the breakdown of the expenditures for 2019:
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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
