The Bowdoin Wetland Management District was established in 1973 after the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service began protecting small wetland areas and grasslands.
The District includes ten Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), four satellite
refuges, and over 150 grassland and/or wetland easements spread over a four-
county area.

The Bowdoin Wetland Management District was established in 1973 after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began protecting small wetland areas and grasslands. The District includes ten Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), four satellite refuges, and over 150 grassland and/or wetland easements spread over a four-county area.

Bird's eye view of the park

Bowdoin Wetland Management District

The purpose of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is to preserve and enhance
resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.
The refuge attracts migrating waterfowl and shorebirds by the thousands and
provides breeding and nesting habitat for ducks, geese, grassland songbirds,
and colonial nesting water birds. The area is equally important to a variety
of resident wildlife, including raptors, pronghorn antelope, sharp-tailed
grouse, and coyotes. Many species of state and federal concern can be seen at
the refuge during different times of the year, including bald eagles, piping
plovers and on occasion peregrine falcons.

North-central Montana is made up of many depressional wetlands created by
glaciers over 12,000-15,000 years ago. Geologic history indicates that Lake
Bowdoin was once an oxbow of the pre-glacial Missouri River channel. Today,
the Missouri River lies nearly 70 miles south of Bowdoin National Wildlife
Refuge.

Major habitat types on the refuge include saline and freshwater wetlands,
native prairie, planted dense nesting cover and shrubs. The refuge consists of
more than 6,000 acres of freshwater and saline wetlands. There are three major
wetland types on the refuge: permanent wetlands; semi-permanent wetlands; and
seasonal or temporary wetlands. The remaining upland is typical mixed-grass
prairie with a complex of western wheatgrass, needle and thread grass, silver
sagebrush, and forbs. The marsh areas are dominated by sedges, while excellent
stands of emergent and aquatic vegetation are found in the shallow, open-water
areas.

The purpose of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is to preserve and enhance resting, feeding, and breeding habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge attracts migrating waterfowl and shorebirds by the thousands and provides breeding and nesting habitat for ducks, geese, grassland songbirds, and colonial nesting water birds. The area is equally important to a variety of resident wildlife, including raptors, pronghorn antelope, sharp-tailed grouse, and coyotes. Many species of state and federal concern can be seen at the refuge during different times of the year, including bald eagles, piping plovers and on occasion peregrine falcons.North-central Montana is made up of many depressional wetlands created by glaciers over 12,000-15,000 years ago. Geologic history indicates that Lake Bowdoin was once an oxbow of the pre-glacial Missouri River channel. Today, the Missouri River lies nearly 70 miles south of Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge.  Major habitat types on the refuge include saline and freshwater wetlands, native prairie, planted dense nesting cover and shrubs. The refuge consists of more than 6,000 acres of freshwater and saline wetlands. There are three major wetland types on the refuge:  permanent wetlands; semi-permanent wetlands; and seasonal or temporary wetlands. The remaining upland is typical mixed-grass prairie with a complex of western wheatgrass, needle and thread grass, silver sagebrush, and forbs. The marsh areas are dominated by sedges, while excellent stands of emergent and aquatic vegetation are found in the shallow, open-water areas.

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge

Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established on March 7, 1938 by
Executive Order No. 7833 as a Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. The general
topography is rolling, mixed-grass prairie with the major drainage running in
an easterly direction. The lake, enhanced by an earthen dam, creates a shallow
seasonal wetland. In most years the lake goes dry by late summer, but during
the spring and after spring run-off, the lake attracts thousands of migratory
birds.

Natural gas exploration and extraction occurs within the refuge boundary and
surrounding area. The refuge contains a large gas field in which the Federal
Government owns much of the mineral rights. The Executive order establishing
the refuge permitted oil and gas leasing. Specifically, the Executive order
noted that the refuge land was within the known geologic structure of a
producing gas field and state that, “nothing should affect the disposition of
its oil and gas deposits under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920.” In addition,
at the time it was established, the Department of Interior regulations did not
prohibit oil and Gas leasing on refuge lands.

Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established on March 7, 1938 by Executive Order No. 7833 as a Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. The general topography is rolling, mixed-grass prairie with the major drainage running in an easterly direction. The lake, enhanced by an earthen dam, creates a shallow seasonal wetland. In most years the lake goes dry by late summer, but during the spring and after spring run-off, the lake attracts thousands of migratory birds.Natural gas exploration and extraction occurs within the refuge boundary and surrounding area. The refuge contains a large gas field in which the Federal Government owns much of the mineral rights. The Executive order establishing the refuge permitted oil and gas leasing. Specifically, the Executive order noted that the refuge land was within the known geologic structure of a producing gas field and state that, “nothing should affect the disposition of its oil and gas deposits under the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920.” In addition, at the time it was established, the Department of Interior regulations did not prohibit oil and Gas leasing on refuge lands.

Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The Nelson Reservoir, a feature of the Milk River Project, is located 19 miles
northeast of Malta, Montana provides offstream storage for irrigation of Malta
Division lands in the Saco and Hinsdale area. This reservoir, with 4,320 water
surface acres, 7,702 land acres and 30 miles of shoreline, offers good fishing
for walleye, perch, and northern pike. Concrete boat ramp, campground, and
picnic shelters.Current Reservoir levels

The Nelson Reservoir, a feature of the <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/projects/Project.jsp?proj_Name=Milk+River+Project" rel="nofollow">Milk River Project</a>, is located 19 miles northeast of Malta, Montana provides offstream storage for irrigation of Malta Division lands in the Saco and Hinsdale area. This reservoir, with 4,320 water surface acres, 7,702 land acres and 30 miles of shoreline, offers good fishing for walleye, perch, and northern pike. Concrete boat ramp, campground, and picnic shelters.<a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_nelr.pl" rel="nofollow">Current Reservoir levels</a>

Bowdoin Wetland Management District

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Nearby Parks

Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge

Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Nelson Reservoir