Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush
farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More
than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon
National Historic Trail in six states and serve as reminders of the
sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers.

Imagine yourself an emigrant headed for Oregon: would promises of lush farmlands and a new beginning lure you to leave home and walk for weeks? More than 2,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen along the Oregon National Historic Trail in six states and serve as reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American settlers.

The Guernsey Ruts in Wyoming feature deeply eroded rock from wagon traffic.

Guernsey Ruts, Wyoming

Alcove Spring Park is located in Kansas near Blue Rapids and Marysville.

Alcove Spring Park Wayside

Fort Laramie National Historic Site features a replica fort with exhibits, located in eastern Wyoming.

Fort Laramie, Wyoming

Split Rock was an important emigrant landmark in Wyoming.

Split Rock, Wyoming

Devil's Gate was an important emigrant landmark in Wyoming.

Devil's Gate, Wyoming

Oregon National Historic Trail

The name Seedskadee originated from local tribes' word "Sisk-a-dee-agie"
meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,210 acre Refuge protects a mosaic
of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green
River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an
important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory
waterfowl and passerine bird species. Many insects, big game and small mammals
can be found on the Refuge as well as resident and migratory birds. Refuge
lands are also rich in historic and cultural resources. The area was used by
nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Thousands of pioneers
crossed the treacherous Green River on what is now Seedskadee National
Wildlife Refuge. The Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails, as well as the
Pony Express Route, which all cross the refuge, have been designated as
National Historic Trails by Congress. Jim Bridger and others operated ferries
on the Green In the 1840's and 1850's. Diaries of immigrants often mention the
crossing on the river and its difficulties. Ferries were swept away by the
strong currents and lives and possessions were lost. To this day, some of the
trails can be traced across the Refuge by their ruts.

Seedskadee is a unique and important component of the National Wildlife Refuge
System (System) which includes more than 565 refuges totaling over 93 million
acres across the United States. Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge was
established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956.
Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat
development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from
reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage. The Seedskadee
Reclamation Act of 1958 specifically authorized acquisition of lands for
Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. In 1997, Congress passed the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act required development of a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for each refuge and that management of
each refuge be consistent with the CCP. In addition, the Improvement Act
required that each refuge be managed to fulfill the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System as well as the specific purposes for which each refuge
was established.

Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge's purpose is defined by two pieces of
Federal enabling legislation. The principal purpose of Seedskadee National
Wildlife Refuge is to provide for the conservation, maintenance, and
management of wildlife resources and its habitat including the development and
improvement of such wildlife resources. Additionally, the Refuge is charged to
protect the scenery, cultural resources, and other natural resources and
provide for public use and enjoyment of compatible wildlife-dependent
activities.

The two pieces of enabling legislation are:

1\. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: “. . . shall be administered by
him/her (Secretary of the Interior) directly or in accordance with cooperative
agreements . . . and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the
conservation, maintenance and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and
its habitat thereon, ” 16 U.S.C. 664

2\. Colorado River Storage Act (section 8): “In connection with the
development of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) and of the
participating projects, the Secretary is authorized and directed to
investigate, plan, construct, operate, and maintain . . . (1) public
recreational facilities on lands withdrawn or acquired . . .” for the Colorado
River Storage Project or participating projects in order to “. . . conserve
the scenery, the natural, historic, and archaeologic objects, and the wildlife
on said lands, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of the same and of
the water areas created by these projects by such means as are consistent with
primary purposes of said projects . . . and (2) facilities to mitigate losses
of and improve conditions for, the propagation of fish and wildlife.” The
Secretary may “. . . dispose of . . .” the facilities “. . . to Federal . . .
agencies . . . upon such terms and conditions as will best promote their
development and operation in the public interest.” 43 U.S.C. 620g Besides
these two pieces of enabling legislation, the thirty-fifth legislature of the
State of Wyoming passed enrolled Act No. 54 in 1959 “providing consent of the
State of Wyoming to the acquisition by the United States where approved by the
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the State Land Board, of lands for the
establishment of migratory bird refuges.” In the Act, the State of Wyoming has
consented to the acquisition of up to 20,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the
establishment and maintenance of migratory bird refuges in accordance with and
for the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Migratory Bird
Hunting Stamp Act.

Thus, if ever any of these authorities, and associated funds, were invoked for
the acquisition of new lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, these
lands would be managed for “use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other
management purpose, for migratory birds” (16 U.S.C. 715d) in accordance with
the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. To date, all lands acquired have been
through Section 8 of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act and, as such,
shall be managed under.

The name Seedskadee originated from local tribes' word "Sisk-a-dee-agie" meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,210 acre Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green River in southwest Wyoming. The riparian corridor of the Green River is an important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory waterfowl and passerine bird species. Many insects, big game and small mammals can be found on the Refuge as well as resident and migratory birds. Refuge lands are also rich in historic and cultural resources. The area was used by nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Thousands of pioneers crossed the treacherous Green River on what is now Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. The Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails, as well as the Pony Express Route, which all cross the refuge, have been designated as National Historic Trails by Congress. Jim Bridger and others operated ferries on the Green In the 1840's and 1850's. Diaries of immigrants often mention the crossing on the river and its difficulties. Ferries were swept away by the strong currents and lives and possessions were lost. To this day, some of the trails can be traced across the Refuge by their ruts.  Seedskadee is a unique and important component of the National Wildlife Refuge System (System) which includes more than 565 refuges totaling over 93 million acres across the United States.  Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 through the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956. Section 8 of this Act provided for the establishment of wildlife habitat development areas to offset the loss of wildlife habitat resulting from reservoir development in the Colorado River Drainage. The Seedskadee Reclamation Act of 1958 specifically authorized acquisition of lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. In 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act. This Act required development of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for each refuge and that management of each refuge be consistent with the CCP. In addition, the Improvement Act required that each refuge be managed to fulfill the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System as well as the specific purposes for which each refuge was established.  Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge's purpose is defined by two pieces of Federal enabling legislation. The principal purpose of Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge is to provide for the conservation, maintenance, and management of wildlife resources and its habitat including the development and improvement of such wildlife resources. Additionally, the Refuge is charged to protect the scenery, cultural resources, and other natural resources and provide for public use and enjoyment of compatible wildlife-dependent activities. The two pieces of enabling legislation are:  1. Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act: “. . . shall be administered by him/her (Secretary of the Interior) directly or in accordance with cooperative agreements . . . and in accordance with such rules and regulations for the conservation, maintenance and management of wildlife, resources thereof, and its habitat thereon, ” 16 U.S.C. 6642. Colorado River Storage Act (section 8): “In connection with the development of the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) and of the participating projects, the Secretary is authorized and directed to investigate, plan, construct, operate, and maintain . . . (1) public recreational facilities on lands withdrawn or acquired . . .” for the Colorado River Storage Project or participating projects in order to “. . . conserve the scenery, the natural, historic, and archaeologic objects, and the wildlife on said lands, and to provide for public use and enjoyment of the same and of the water areas created by these projects by such means as are consistent with primary purposes of said projects . . . and (2) facilities to mitigate losses of and improve conditions for, the propagation of fish and wildlife.” The Secretary may “. . . dispose of . . .” the facilities “. . . to Federal . . . agencies . . . upon such terms and conditions as will best promote their development and operation in the public interest.” 43 U.S.C. 620g  Besides these two pieces of enabling legislation, the thirty-fifth legislature of the State of Wyoming passed enrolled Act No. 54 in 1959 “providing consent of the State of Wyoming to the acquisition by the United States where approved by the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission and the State Land Board, of lands for the establishment of migratory bird refuges.” In the Act, the State of Wyoming has consented to the acquisition of up to 20,000 acres of land in Wyoming for the establishment and maintenance of migratory bird refuges in accordance with and for the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act. Thus, if ever any of these authorities, and associated funds, were invoked for the acquisition of new lands for Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, these lands would be managed for “use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds” (16 U.S.C. 715d) in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act. To date, all lands acquired have been through Section 8 of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act and, as such, shall be managed under.

Oregon National Historic Trail

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Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge