About Us
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was established to recover fish and wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River and to restore essential wildlife habitat that became scarce after the river was "improved" for navigation half a century ago.
Today, Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge provides an opportunity to experience rare Missouri River floodplain habitats that have largely disappeared from the landscape. These diverse prairies, floodplain forests, wetlands, and riverine habitats provide for the needs of resident, migratory, and endangered species. Wildlife-dependent recreation and education opportunities are available to the surrounding communities including a major metropolitan area.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is managed together with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, which is located just upriver. For questions regarding Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, contact the staff of DeSoto at 712-388-4800.
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Our Purpose
Every national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge was created for a special purpose. Some were created to protect migratory birds, others to protect threatened or endangered species or unique habitats, while others fulfill another special purpose. All activities allowed on refuges must be evaluated to make sure each activity will not conflict with the reason the refuge was founded.
The purpose of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is for the conservation, management and restoration of the fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats along the Missouri River floodplain for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Our History
1937 – Before the refuge was established, a revetment and shale dikes were constructed across the upstream end of Boyer Chute, thus cutting off the natural flow of the Missouri River through the chute.
August 1992 – The Boyer Bend of the Missouri River and its chute were recognized as a high priority conservation restoration site, thus authorizing the establishment of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge.
1994 – The Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers complete the restoration of the Boyer Chute side channel, making it the first side-channel restoration project of the Missouri River
September 1997 – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service takes over ownership of Boyer Chute, officially establishing it as a National Wildlife Refuge.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge is managed together with DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, which is located just upriver. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge contains similar Missouri River floodplain habitat to Boyer Chute and is best known for the incredible number of migratory waterfowl that utilize the refuge as a sanctuary and resting place. Within its 8,365 acres lies DeSoto Lake, which is an oxbow lake that used to be a bend in the Missouri River. DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge also contains a piece of history within its borders, the Bertrand Steamboat. The Bertrand sunk on the bend of river that is now DeSoto Lake leaving behind the cargo and historic time pieces, amounting to almost 250,000 different artifacts housed within the walls of the DeSoto Visitor Center. For questions regarding DeSoto or Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, contact the staff of DeSoto at 712-388-4800.
