A ground-breaking ceremony was held Thursday morning for the new U.S. Fish & Wildlife Headquarters and Visitor Center building, at the future site of the facility, west of Huron at the Maga Ta-Hohpi Waterfowl Production Area. Construction will take approximately 16-18 months, and the building will host staff offices and a visitor/education center once completed.

Maga Ta-Hohpi (Maha-ta-hopie), is a Yankton Sioux term meaning “Duck Nest.” The Maga Ta-Hohpi Waterfowl Production Area consists of approximately 2,200 acres and is located nine miles west of Huron on Highway 14. The building will be located one-quarter mile west of 392nd Avenue, on the south side of the road.

The new headquarters building will host employees of the Huron Wetlands Acquisition Office and Huron Wetland Management District. The Wetland Management District manages 59 waterfowl production areas, totaling 17,683 acres, in Beadle, Sanborn, Jerauld, Hand, Hyde, Hughes, Sully and Buffalo counties.

Fred Oslund, with the Huron Wetland Management District was a speaker at the event.