About Us
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an important feeding and resting area for migrating waterfowl in the Central Flyway. The Refuge provides an oasis for water birds in southwestern North Dakota. Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and songbirds are attracted to the food, water, shelter, and space that is provided by the Refuge. The Refuge provides grassland habitat for sparrows, sharp-tailed grouse, fox, coyote and white-tailed deer; wetland habitat for shorebirds, gulls, terns, rails, and cranes; and island habitat for nesting ducks and Canada geese.
Our Mission
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to serve a purpose that targets the conservation of native species dependent on its lands and waters. All activities on those acres are reviewed for compatibility with this purpose.
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established “…for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.”
Located within the Central Flyway, the Refuge historically served as a foundation for the restoration of the nearly extirpated giant Canada goose population. Management strives to restore mixed-grass prairie and continues to provide quality migratory stopover and breeding habitat for birds of conservation concern.
Our History
The Refuge was established by Executive Order 8662 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 3, 1941 “as a refuge for breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife”. The Refuge is managed by the Audubon Wetland Management District. Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge is 2,230 acres with 2,033 acres of native grasslands, tame grasslands and rock outcroppings surrounding the 197 acre Stewart Lake. The Refuge provides an oasis for water birds in southwestern North Dakota. Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and songbirds are attracted to the food, water, shelter, and space that is provided by the Refuge. The lake is impounded by an earthen dam with a spillway and a low level outlet.
Other Facilities in this Complex
Stewart Lake National Wildlife Refuge part of the Audubon Wetland Management District. The District manages an array of private and fee-title land held by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
