Hewitt Lake 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.