Benton Lake Wetland Management District

The Benton Lake Wetland Management District is managed as part of the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The district also includes conservation easement programs in Missoula and Lake counties.

Visit Us

The Benton Lake Wetland Management District contains 23 Waterfowl Production Areas that are open to hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, environmental education, and interpretation. 

Location and Contact Information

      About Us

      This district covers the largest geographical area of any in the nation. The protection of habitat here continues to grow with the acquisition of more easements and waterfowl production areas. The District was established in 1975 totaling over 16,000 acres, waterfowl production areas are owned in fee-title and managed as units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. 

      What We Do

      Grasslands evolved with the presence of disturbance from bison and natural fires. Through our management activities, we are able to provide the disturbance that is necessary for healthy grasslands and the wildlife that depend on them. The needs of wildlife and their habitats are the primary determining factors of any habitat management strategy on the District. 

      Services
      A beautiful green grassland with white flowers in bloom under a partly cloudy sky

      In the United States, the Prairie Pothole Region is located within the northern Great Plains in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Characterized by thousands of shallow, glacially formed wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie Pothole Region provides habitat for...

      Dozens of waterfowl flying over a grassy wetland

      In the United States, the Prairie Pothole Region is located within the northern Great Plains in parts of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Characterized by thousands of shallow wetlands known as potholes, the Prairie Pothole Region provides habitat for globally...

      Our Species

      The Wetland Management District is a collection of diverse landscapes, from wetlands and mixed-grass prairie in the east to forests, inter-mountain grasslands, and rivers in the west. Likewise, animal species that inhabit the District lands are diverse and reflective of a variety of habitats.