Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Map showing the location of Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
Map of the United States
LocationMohave County, Arizona /
San Bernardino County, California, U.S.
Nearest cityNeedles, California
Coordinates34°36′34″N 114°25′02″W / 34.6095812°N 114.4173321°W / 34.6095812; -114.4173321
Area37,515 acres (151.82 km2)
Established1941
Governing bodyU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Websitewww.fws.gov/refuge/Havasu

Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. It preserves habitat for desert bighorn sheep, the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, and other animals. The refuge protects 30 river miles - 300 miles (480 km) of shoreline - from Needles, California, to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. One of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado River flows through the 20-mile-long (32 km) Topock Gorge.

Species

Animal species that inhabit this refuge include peregrine falcon, coyote, fox, desert bighorn sheep, greater roadrunner, bobcat, and cougar. Thousands of bats emerge from historic mines and razorback suckers swim in the back of Beal Lake.

Support

A large river in a dry, hot land attracts wildlife and people like a powerful magnet. Many thousands of visitors annually flock to the refuge to boat through the Topock Gorge, watch waterbirds in Topock Marsh, or hike to the Havasu Wilderness Area.

A non-profit membership organization supports and advocates for the refuge. It assists refuge staff with several of the refuge annual events, help to obtain grants to support refuge projects, conducts fund-raising activities to support environmental education programs, and helps the United States Fish and Wildlife Service operate and maintain the refuge facilities and programs by providing volunteer labor.

Locations

Fivemile Landing, Arizona
Coordinates34°47′43″N 114°30′21″W / 34.79528°N 114.50583°W / 34.79528; -114.50583
Elevation463 ft (141 m)[1]
GNIS feature ID24417

Five Mile Landing

To aid visitors to the Colorado River, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has allowed a private contractor to operate a boat, canoe, campsite, RV site, and a store in the refuge at Five-Mile Landing, a 35-acre (14 ha) site with boat ramps at Topock Marsh in the northern part of the refuge.[2]

Topock Marsh

The Topock Marsh is one of the larger birding sites found in the Lower Colorado River Valley, between Hoover Dam and the Colorado River Delta.

Catfish Paradise

Catfish Paradise is an area located at the southern end of the Topock Marsh.[3] Many species living in the area include Bullfrogs, Carp, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Tilapia.

See also

  • Sonoran Desert topics index

References

  1. ↑ "Feature Detail Report for: Fivemile Landing". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ↑ "Concessionaire sought for Five-Mile landing operation". Needles Desert Stat. Needles, California. July 26, 2006. p. 8.
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

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