Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the first national wildlife refuge in
Kansas, was established in 1954 as an overlay project on a Bureau of
Reclamation irrigation and flood control reservoir. Kirwin Dam and Reservoir
are features of the Kirwin Unit, P-SMBP. Reclamation owns the land and
controls reservoir water levels while the Refuge staff from the Fish and
Wildlife Service manages all other activities on the land and water. The
reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek. Both
are intermittent streams, which means they may dry up in periods of low
precipitation. The reservoir and refuge are open 24 hours. Good access roads.
Available species of fish include crappie, walleye, wipers, largemouth and
smallmouth bass, channel and flathead catfish, and freshwater drum. Fishing is
year round. Current Reservoir Level.

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the first national wildlife refuge in Kansas, was established in 1954 as an overlay project on a Bureau of Reclamation irrigation and flood control reservoir. <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=108" rel="nofollow">Kirwin Dam</a> and Reservoir are features of the <a href="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=471t" rel="nofollow">Kirwin Unit, P-SMBP</a>. Reclamation owns the land and controls reservoir water levels while the Refuge staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service manages all other activities on the land and water. The reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek. Both are intermittent streams, which means they may dry up in periods of low precipitation. The reservoir and refuge are open 24 hours. Good access roads. Available species of fish include crappie, walleye, wipers, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel and flathead catfish, and freshwater drum. Fishing is year round. <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/gp-bin/arcweb_kwks.pl" rel="nofollow">Current Reservoir Level.</a>

Dripstone

Kirwin Reservoir

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge was the 229th national wildlife refuge
established and the first in Kansas. In 1954, Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge
was created as an overlay project on a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation) irrigation and flood control reservoir. Refuge staff manage
activities on the land and water. Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is located
in the rolling hills and narrow valley of the North Fork of the Solomon River
in north-central Kansas. On the ancestral homelands of the Pawnee (Pâri), the
Refuge lies in an area where the tall-grass prairies of the east meet the
short-grass plains of the west. As a result, a diversity of wildlife, grasses,
and wildflowers from both prairie types are found on the Refuge. The Refuge
consists of 10,778 acres and includes prairie grasslands, open water,
shoreline, wetlands, and wooded areas found along the banks of the lake,
rivers and streams. The reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the Solomon
River and Bow Creek. Both are intermittent streams which means they may dry up
in periods of low precipitation. The reservoir water levels fluctuate
tremendously from year to year, depending upon rain, snow runoff, and
irrigation use.

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is known for the return of migrating birds and
bird courtship rituals in the spring and fall migration of thousands of
migrating birds. The Refuge is in the Central Flyway, a major travel way for
migratory birds, including the endangered whooping crane. Kirwin National
Wildlife Refuge is also home to many wildflowers, plants, fish, and wildlife
species that live here all year round.

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge was the 229th national wildlife refuge established and the first in Kansas. In 1954, Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge was created as an overlay project on a U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) irrigation and flood control reservoir. Refuge staff manage activities on the land and water. Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is located in the rolling hills and narrow valley of the North Fork of the Solomon River in north-central Kansas. On the ancestral homelands of the Pawnee (Pâri), the Refuge lies in an area where the tall-grass prairies of the east meet the short-grass plains of the west. As a result, a diversity of wildlife, grasses, and wildflowers from both prairie types are found on the Refuge. The Refuge consists of 10,778 acres and includes prairie grasslands, open water, shoreline, wetlands, and wooded areas found along the banks of the lake, rivers and streams. The reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek. Both are intermittent streams which means they may dry up in periods of low precipitation. The reservoir water levels fluctuate tremendously from year to year, depending upon rain, snow runoff, and irrigation use.Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is known for the return of migrating birds and bird courtship rituals in the spring and fall migration of thousands of migrating birds.  The Refuge is in the Central Flyway, a major travel way for migratory birds, including the endangered whooping crane. Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge is also home to many wildflowers, plants, fish, and wildlife species that live here all year round.

Bird's eye view of the park

Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge

Woodston Diversion Dam is a feature of the PSMBP - Solomon Division - Webster
Unit. This area is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks as a
wildlife management area. Site consists of 254 land acres and 10 acres covered
by water and wildlife including pheasant, waterfowl, deer, and dove.

Woodston Diversion Dam is a feature of the <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/dataweb/html/webster.html" rel="nofollow">PSMBP - Solomon Division - Webster Unit</a>. This area is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks as a wildlife management area. Site consists of 254 land acres and 10 acres covered by water and wildlife including pheasant, waterfowl, deer, and dove.

Kirwin Reservoir

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Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge

Woodston Diversion Dam