The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust will celebrate the completion of the Rapids Lake Unit of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday, Oct. 19, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Festivities will include the dedication of the new Education and Visitor Center, educational activities for all ages, demonstrations and self-led tours.

The 1,500-acre Rapids Lake Unit spans the north side of the Minnesota River Valley from downtown Carver to Carver County Road 45. The new Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center overlooks the river at the former Gehl-Mittelsted farmsite at 15865 Carver Highlands Drive (just off County Road 45).

A map of the area and location of the visitor center can be found online at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/minnesotavalley/rapids_lake.html [1]