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The Service stopped active management of the aquatic resources and public uses on the Unit in the mid-1980sbased on a management decision to use high water levels to separate wildlife and the public as much as possible from contaminants in the lake’s sediments(USFWS 1981,1994). The Unit has remained in “caretaker status” with minimal active management since then. The Service became a partner in working with the regulatory agencies and responsible party to resolve contaminant concerns on the Round Lake Unit in 1981. The Service remains actively engaged with the regulatory agencies responsible for the clean-up of TCAAP-source contamination on the Round Lake Unit with the goal ofreturningthe Unit to its intended functions(USFWS 2004). FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THE ROUND LAKE UNIT Vision The future value of the Round Lake Unit of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge for wildlife and its use by humans depends upon the level of clean-up attained via the Superfund remediation project.Prior to the discovery of contamination, Round Lake was considered to be valuable area for migrating waterfowl and otherwater birds. It was selected to become a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System because of itsknown migratory bird use, the quality of the lake and surrounding habitat, and the recognized threatfrom developmentto it and similar areas on the edge of an expanding metropolitan area. The vision of the Service since it acquired the Round Lake Unit has been to have a fully functioning unitof the National Wildlife Refuge System. This means providing quality habitat to support the natural resources entrusted to the Service by the American people. It also means facilitatingpriority public use opportunities where those public uses would beappropriate and compatible with the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the purposes of the Refuge.Priority public uses are defined as environmental education and interpretation, wildlife observation and photography, fishing, and hunting(Public Law105-57). On August 24, 1999, a public open house was held at Bethel College and Seminary, Arden Hills, Minnesota as part of the planning process for the development of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge’s Comprehensive Conservation Plan. The primary purpose of this event was to obtain public input into the future management of the Round Lake Unit.The objective and potential strategies to meet management goalsfor the Round Lake Unit, asidentified in the CCP, reflect the results ofthat workshop.The CCP also notesthe limitations on Unit management resulting from continued contamination. This plan further refines the CCP objectivesand strategiesspecific to this Unit of the Refuge. A summary of comments given to the Service by the open house attendees are asfollows: Recommend caution with trail locations (relative to residential development adjacent to the Refuge on east side of the Unit). Provide more wildlife viewing opportunities. Maximize wildlife habitat. Develop environmental education and interpretation partnerships with Bethel College and local schools. 8/6/2013 4 USFWS RLMP