text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Southern Prairie Potholes National 
  Wildlife Refuge Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) the area of the State of Iowa known as the Southern 
          Prairie Potholes and consisting primarily of the Willow Creek 
          watershed in Greene County offers exceptional potential for 
          restoration into a bountiful native wildlife habitat area;
              (2) ongoing restoration and preservation of this wildlife 
          habitat area will significantly enhance opportunities for 
          outdoor recreation in this region, including waterfowl and 
          upland hunting, wildlife viewing, and hiking;
              (3) the Southern Prairie Potholes area is located at the 
          southwestern edge of the Des Moines Lobe left by glaciers 
          12,000 years ago;
              (4) the sloughs and grassland offer a substantial oasis of 
          both wetland and grassland habitat at the southwestern boundary 
          of the most heavily cropped region in Iowa;
              (5) because of the location of the Southern Prairie 
          Potholes at the edge of the multistate and international region 
          known as the Prairie Potholes Region, and along important 
          migratory flyways, the restoration and preservation of the area 
          is critical to providing wildlife habitat across the full 
          extent of the Prairie Potholes Region;
              (6) this 23,500-acre area has for years been designated by 
          the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture as a priority area for 
          restoration and preservation because of the importance of the 
          area to wildlife, facilitating gradual public land acquisition 
          for habitat restoration;
              (7) the area already includes the 2,134-acre Dunbar Slough 
          wetland complex of Federal and State land managed as popular 
          wildlife and hunting areas serving Carroll, Greene, and Guthrie 
          Counties and beyond;
              (8) national wildlife refuges increasingly follow a mosaic 
          pattern with a core of publicly held land surrounded by 
          privately held land also located within the refuge boundary;
              (9) private ownership and uses are not affected for private 
          land within the designated boundaries of the refuge, but 
          private landowners may be provided increased opportunities for 
          partnering on conservation or restoration practices;
              (10) restoration and preservation of the Southern Prairie 
          Potholes area will benefit hundreds of birds, mammals, 
          butterflies, reptiles, and amphibians that have been classified 
          as species of greatest conservation need, including the 
          endangered Blanding's turtle;
              (11) restoration of grassland and wetland in the area will 
          contribute to improved flood control and water quality 
          downstream, as the Middle Raccoon River is the major water 
          source for the Des Moines metropolitan region and other 
          communities;
              (12) the Southern Prairie Potholes area offers unique 
          recreational appeal because the area is adjacent to the 
          existing Whiterock Conservancy, a 4,300-acre land trust 
          dedicated to conserving and protecting the natural resources of 
          Iowa and engaging the public with the landscape;
              (13) Whiterock Conservancy offers outdoor recreation and 
          education and includes a major new Backcountry Trail complex;
              (14) the proximity of the Southern Prairie Potholes to the 
          largest metropolitan area in Iowa adds to the ability of the 
          area to provide natural resource experiences to a broad 
          community; and
              (15) the area is already attracting cyclists, and that 
          appeal will grow with ongoing development of the cross-country 
          American Discovery Trail transecting the area.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Refuge.--The term ``Refuge'' means the Southern Prairie 
          Potholes National Wildlife Refuge established under section 4.
              (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
  
  SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT AND PURPOSE OF REFUGE.
  
      (a) Establishment.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish the Southern 
          Prairie Potholes National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of 
          approximately 23,500 acres of Federal land, water, and 
          interests in land and water within the boundaries depicted on 
          the map entitled ``Southern Prairie Potholes Project Area'' and 
          dated August 26, 2014.
              (2) Boundary revisions.--The Secretary shall make such 
          minor revisions of the boundaries of the Refuge as may be 
          appropriate to carry out the purposes of the Refuge or to 
          facilitate the acquisition of property within the Refuge.
              (3) Availability of map.--The Secretary shall keep the map 
          referred to in paragraph (1) available for inspection in 
          appropriate offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
          Service.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Refuge are--
              (1) to enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation, 
          including waterfowl and upland hunting, hiking, native habitat 
          exploration, and wildlife viewing;
              (2) to provide for the restoration or preservation of 
          Refuge land to native wetland and grassland habitats and 
          landscapes;
              (3) to provide for the restoration and conservation of 
          native plants and animal communities on suitable sites in the 
          Southern Prairie Potholes area, including the protection of 
          threatened and endangered species and the restoration of 
          extirpated species;
              (4) to provide critical travel and nesting habitat for 
          migratory birds;
              (5) to provide opportunities to private landowners to 
          access technical or financial assistance for the voluntary 
          restoration of the land of the private landowners for the 
          benefit of fish and wildlife;
              (6) to provide for outdoor recreation, including hunting, 
          hiking, paddling, and wildlife viewing to the public; and
              (7) to facilitate the education of the public, especially 
          young people, about nature, the environment, and the 
          conservation of the natural resources.
      (c) Effective Date.--
              (1) In general.--The establishment of the Refuge shall take 
          effect on the date on which the Secretary publishes a notice 
          that sufficient property has been acquired by the United States 
          within the boundaries described in subsection (a)(1) to 
          constitute an area that can be efficiently managed as a 
          National Wildlife Refuge.
              (2) Publication.--The Secretary shall publish the notice 
          described in paragraph (1) in the Federal Register and 
          publications of local circulation in the vicinity of the area 
          within the boundaries described in subsection (a)(1).
  
  SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION OF REFUGE.
  
      (a) In General.--Subject to the purposes described in section 4(b), 
  the Secretary shall administer all land, water, and interests in land 
  and water acquired under this Act in accordance with the National 
  Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et 
  seq.).
      (b) Additional Authority.--The Secretary may use such additional 
  statutory authority as may be available for the conservation of fish 
  and wildlife, and the provision of fish- and wildlife-oriented 
  recreational opportunities, as the Secretary considers appropriate to 
  carry out the purposes of this Act.
      (c) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish- 
  and wildlife-oriented recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with 
  paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
  System Administration Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure 
  that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
  environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses 
  of the Refuge.
      (d) Volunteers and Partnerships.--The Secretary shall encourage the 
  use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships among the United States 
  Fish and Wildlife Service, local communities, conservation 
  organizations, and other non-Federal entities to promote public 
  awareness, conservation, and priority uses of the resources of the 
  Refuge.
  
  SEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF LAND AND WATER.
  
      (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (c) and the availability of 
  appropriations, the Secretary may acquire up to 23,500 acres of land 
  and water, or interests in land and water, within the boundaries of the 
  Refuge as described in section 4(a)(1).
      (b) Inclusion in Refuge.--Any land, water, or interests acquired by 
  the Secretary under this section shall be part of the Refuge.
      (c) Manner of Acquisition.--All acquisition of land or water under 
  this section shall be made in a voluntary manner from willing sellers 
  only.
  
  SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
  to carry out this Act.
target: Southern Prairie Potholes National Wildlife Refuge Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the approximately 23,500-acre Southern Prairie Potholes National Wildlife Refuge in Iowa. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire land and water within the boundaries of the Refuge from willing sellers. Lists as purposes of the Refuge to: (1) enhance opportunities for outdoor recreation; (2) provide for the restoration or preservation of Refuge land to native wetland and grassland habitats and landscapes; (3) provide for the restoration and conservation of native plants and animal communities; (4) provide critical travel and nesting habitat for migratory birds; (5) provide opportunities to private landowners to access assistance for the voluntary restoration of land for the benefit of fish and wildlife; and (6) facilitate the education of the public about nature, the environment, and the conservation of the natural resources. Directs the Secretary to: (1) administer all land, water, and interests therein acquired under this Act in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966; (2) ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses of the Refuge; and (3) encourage the use of volunteers and facilitate partnerships to promote public awareness, conservation, and priority uses of Refuge resources. .
feat_title: Southern Prairie Potholes National Wildlife Refuge Act