| Imperial National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Map of theUnited States | |
| Location | Imperial County, California,La Paz County, Arizona, andYuma County, Arizona,United States |
| Nearest city | Martinez Lake, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 33°0′N114°30′W / 33.000°N 114.500°W /33.000; -114.500 |
| Area | 25,768 acres (104 km2) |
| Established | 1941 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Imperial National Wildlife Refuge |
TheImperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles (50 km) of the lowerColorado River inArizona andCalifornia, including the last un-channeled section before the river entersMexico. TheImperial Refuge Wilderness, a federally designated, 15,056-acre (60.93 km2),wilderness area is protected within the refuge.[1] It also surrounds thePicacho State Recreation Area. This section of the Colorado River is popular for boating, hiking, fishing, camping, exploring old mining camps and wildlife watching.
The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains. It is a refuge and breeding area formigratory birds and local desert wildlife.[2]
Even though it is located in theSonoran Desert, theImperial National Wildlife RefugeArchived 2009-06-12 at theWayback Machine is home to a mostlywetland environment. Wetlandwildlife is most abundant in winter, when birds such ascinnamon teal andnorthern pintail use the refuge. During the summer months, permanent residents such as greategrets are abundant. The Colorado River plays a vital role in the lives of desert fauna. It is the only water source for many miles. Small animals such as theblack-tailed jackrabbit andwestern whiptail lizard are plentiful.Desert bighorn sheep andmule deer also call the refuge home.[2]
A full list of birds found on the refuge can be found on the refuge website.[3]
At one time, the banks of theColorado River were lined withcottonwood andwillow forests, sustained by the river’s natural periodic flooding. Animals depended on this green forest oasis for breeding, resting, feeding, and shade. Woodcutting during thesteamboat era, clearing foragriculture, wild fire, exotic plants like salt cedar, and use ofdams for flood prevention have devastated cottonwood and willow stands along the lower Colorado River. Some animals that depended on theriparian forests, such as thesouthwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), have becomeendangered.[2]
ThePainted Desert Trail, aNational Recreation Trail, is a 1.3-mile self-guided trail for an opportunity to see desert plants and wildlife. The trail takes you through a rainbow of colors left by 30,000-year-old volcanic activity and features a panoramic view of the Colorado River valley.
