Editor’s note: This is an article in a series on the travel and recreational opportunities on public lands in Utah.
By STEVE CHRISTENSEN
Contributing Writer
There are three National Wildlife Refuges in Utah: Bear River, Fish Springs, and Ouray, but there are dozens of places in the state managed for enhancement of wildlife.
National Wildlife Refuges are operated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. President Theodore Roosevelt signed an Executive Order on March 14, 1903 which established Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, along Florida’s central Atlantic coast, as the first unit of the present National Wildlife Refuge System. The system has increased to 550 wildlife refuges nationwide.
Mission of the refuge system: “The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.”
Bear River Migratory Wildlife Refuge
Bear River, established in 1928 by Presidential Proclamation, is the largest, most visited, and most accessible of the three wildlife refuges in Utah. Bear River is on the Great Salt Lake where the Bear River enters the lake. It is located approximately 15 miles west of Brigham City.
Numerous dikes make the refuge a series of fresh water ponds. The refuge consists of 80,000 acres of marsh, open water, uplands, and alkali mudflats. During the course of a year over 250 species of birds visit the refuge, providing a resting place for millions of migratory birds. As a vital part of the Great Salt Lake Flyway, most birds use the refuge as a resting place for a short time on their annual migrations.
I started visiting Bear River Refuge when I was in my 20s. At that time there was an old visitors center located in a beautiful grove of trees at the entrance to the refuge. It made a nice place to eat lunch. In 1982 a new visitors center was opened, but timing was bad, since the flood of 1983 decimated the refuge, destroying all dikes and actually covering the buildings. The refuge was rendered inoperable.
By 1990 the water had receded. Employees and scores of volunteers began work to rebuild the refuge. By 2000 habitat recovered and, once again, the refuge supported millions of birds. Bear River again became a very crucial component of the Great Salt Lake Ecosystem.
It wasn’t until 2006 when a new visitors center (now called an education center) was opened, but this time it was located just off Interstate 15, some 12 miles from the original refuge boundary.
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
Fish Springs was established in 1959. My first visit to Fish Springs (in the mid-1970s) was a surprise. I was just exploring back roads west of Tooele and stumbled on the refuge. I was into birding, so I was pleased to spend a day looking around. I had no idea it was there. I suspect the majority of Utahns don’t know it’s there. Of course, many don’t care. But, for those of us who do, it’s a unique place.
In the middle of the Great Basin, it’s a haven of springs which create ponds, used by migratory birds. It hasn’t always been birds that have used the fresh waters of Fish Springs. Stage lines and Pony Express riders watered horses and filled their canteens before anyone was concerned for the welfare of birds.
The Fish Springs Refuge was established as a resting and nesting place for migratory birds within the Pacific Flyway. Since its inception the purpose of the refuge has broadened to include habitat for lots of birds, but the emphasis remains on wetland-dependent migratory birds.
Over the period of a year over 200 species stop at the refuge. Since official designation as a National Refuge a total of 298 species have been identified at Fish Springs.
From the Fish Springs website: “Activities available at Fish Springs NWR include wildlife observation, wildlife photography, waterfowl hunting, environmental education and interpretation. Fish Springs NWR is one of the most isolated Refuges in the lower 48 states. Visiting the Refuge requires a long drive on unpaved roads without nearby food, gas or other services. From the Salt Lake City area, plan on about 3 hours travel time when using the Pony Express Route. Alternatively, by traveling in on Highway 174 north of Delta, Utah, unpaved road distance can be greatly reduced. When in doubt call the Refuge at 435-693-3122 for road information.”
Ouray National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge was established as a sanctuary for migratory birds on May 25, 1960. The water source for Ouray is the Green River. In fact, the Green River runs right through the middle of the refuge.
The refuge is located approximately 18 miles south of Highway 40. The turnoff is halfway between Vernal and Roosevelt.
I have a long history with Ouray. When I lived in Salt Lake City in the 1970s I went to the refuge numerous times. I would take a small raft to the top of the refuge and float the Green River to the highway. I would then hitchhike back to my vehicle. This was made somewhat more difficult due to the fact that I had a dog. My Black Labrador would accompany me everywhere and loved to hang out the front of the small raft. When I looked away he would jump in the river. He always wore a harness so I could get him back in the raft. Hitchhiking with a wet dog isn’t always successful. More than once we walked the entire five miles back to the car.
I went to work for the Vernal Express in 1983 and took advantage of the proximity to float through the refuge numerous times. After I retired from Carbon County in 2014 I volunteered for a short time at the refuge.
There are more mammals at Ouray than at the other refuges. Mammals include elk and mule deer, pronghorns and river otters. There are also beaver and muskrats. Of course there are also lots of birds. The refuge boasts a list of 350 fish and wildlife species.
In addition to the river, several ponds are created using river water. These support wetland and water birds. The water in these ponds increase and decrease with the flows in the river. In addition, there are pumps that keep the water levels up during migration periods.
Unlike the other two refuges, the National Wildlife Service doesn’t own a lot of the land at Ouray. Much of the land is part of the Ouray Indian Reservatopm, leased to the Wildlife Service for use as a refuge.
Wildlife Management Areas
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, other federal land management agencies, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, supports dozens of areas that support wildlife in the state of Utah. Some are dedicated to a single purpose, like Hardware Ranch, whose purpose is to support big game (mostly elk) during the winter months. Others are more general in nature, set aside to protect numerous species.
Desert Lake Wildlife Management Area
This area is an important stop for migrating waterfowl to rest. There is very little water in the area, making this area even more important. Water comes from waste water and agricultural runoff. The area surround the wetlands is very dry desert. Access is restricted. It is advised to call the Price office (435-613-3700) of the Division of Wildlife Resources prior to visiting.
Generally, mid-April and late September coincide with the peak of the annual spring and fall migrations. Waterfowl species include swans, Canada geese, mallards, green-winged and cinnamon teal, pintails, wigeons, gadwalls, redheads, canvasbacks, buffleheads, goldeneyes, ruddy ducks, and mergansers.
Gordon Creek WMA
This area is managed for big game. It provides necessary winter habitat for deer and elk. A project supported by the Mule Deer Foundation in May of 2015 greatly enhanced the habitat of the area.
In addition to Gordon Creek there is also a spring in the area that provides important water for deer and elk, as well as numerous species of birds.
At times it’s possible to see hundreds of deer and elk from the main road.