About Us
Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is a 3,279-acre Refuge, which also has a 399-acre flowage easement and contains three large wetlands which are filled by Cedar Creek. Halfbreed Lake is a productive 248-acre semi-permanent wetland that has a good interspersion of open water and emergent vegetation. The other two wetlands, Grass Lake (375 acres) and Goose Lake (220 acres), are shallower and less permanent, but sustain highly productive stands of submergent vegetation. The dense cattail communities located throughout the Refuge in marshy areas provide cover, concealment, nesting habitat, and brood-rearing habitat for a plethora of water-obligate bird species.
The Refuge is one of the most productive migratory bird areas in south-central Montana. It is used in abundance by a diversity of migratory birds during spring and fall migrations for staging and resting, and for nesting and brood-rearing in spring through late summer. The Refuge also provides summer molting areas for 500 to 1,000 Canada geese. Several upland bird species known to be on the Refuge include Brewer's sparrows, loggerhead shrikes, sharp-tailed grouse, greater sage grouse, and Sprague’s pipits (both state species of concern). Birds of prey include sharp-shinned hawks, short-eared owls, peregrine falcons, and ferruginous hawks. Water birds include most species of waterfowl present in the Central Flyway, along with great blue herons, white-faced ibis, black-necked stilts, American avocets, willets, and Wilson's phalaropes. An exceptionally large colony of Franklin's gulls have also been seen on the Refuge. Mammals known to occur on the Refuge include black-tailed prairie-dogs (state species of concern), mule deer, white-tailed deer, badgers, skunks, coyotes, red foxes, hoary bats, and prairie voles. Up to 250 pronghorn have been seen at Grass Lake NWR.
Upland vegetation throughout most of the Refuge generally consists of a prevalent greasewood component having a mixture of mixed-grass prairie (western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, needle and thread grass, and prairie junegrass) with some scattered sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.
Learn more about sagebrush . Waterfowl and other upland and shrub-loving bird species do well nesting here. Likewise, pronghorn and deer hide fawns in this extremely dense habitat.
In 1997, Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge was designated an Important Bird Area (IBA). An IBA is a site that is exceptionally important - even essential - for bird conservation. The Refuge was designated based on the number of waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, water-obligate bird species present each year, as well as being important for sage-grouse.
*The Refuge is currently closed to all public access pending the review and implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA).
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 History
Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established on 19 May 1942, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he signed Executive Order 9167. This order established the Refuge and a boundary “as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife” although it did not convey any lands. It was initially managed as a flowage and Refuge easement. In 1987, the Service purchased 3,279 acres in fee title, which included most of the original easement lands. The Refuge now consists of 3,279 acres in Refuge fee title, 640 acres of State land where the Service has acquired the grazing lease, and 399 acres of private land that is still covered by the original Refuge flowage easement.
In 1938 the Works Project Administration (WPA) constructed a 475-foot dike with a concrete fixed-elevation spillway to increase the depth and capacity of Halfbreed Lake. The spillway allows water to be impounded up to an established elevation. Water in excess of that elevation automatically flows down Cedar Creek. Lake levels fluctuate from year to year, depending on annual precipitation and surface runoff. In years of abundant runoff, after these wetlands fill, water continues down Cedar Creek to Big Lake, which is adjacent to the James L. Hansen Waterfowl Production Area owned by the Service. Grass Lake NWR is in the same watershed and about 10-miles downstream from Hailstone NWR. The Service does hold the water rights for the WPA project to impound more water.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Residing within the boundaries of the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District, this Refuge is managed as part of the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge Complex. A National Wildlife Refuge Complex is an administrative grouping of two or more Refuges, wildlife management areas, or other Refuge conservation areas that are primarily managed from a central office location. Refuges are grouped into a complex structure structure
Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
Learn more about structure because they occur in a similar ecological region, such as a watershed or specific habitat type, and have a related purpose and management needs. Typically, a project leader or complex manager oversees the general management of all Refuges within the complex and Refuge managers are responsible for operations at specific Refuges. Supporting staff, composed of administrative, law enforcement, Refuge management, biological, fire, visitor services, and maintenance professionals, are centrally located and support all Refuges within the complex.
The District Manager for the Charles M. Russell Wetland Management District serves as the manager for Grass Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
