Great River National Wildlife Refuge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great River National Wildlife Refuge |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Great River National Wildlife Refuge
Location in the United States
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
Location in Missouri
Great River National Wildlife Refuge
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Adams County, Pike County, Illinois, Clark County, Lewis County, Missouri, United States |
| Nearest city | Louisiana, Missouri |
| Area | 11,600 acres (47 km2) |
| Established | 1958 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Great River National Wildlife Refuge |
The Great River National Wildlife Refuge is a special place that protects about 11,600 acres (47 km2) of land along 120 miles (190 km) of the amazing Mississippi River. This refuge stretches north of St. Louis, Missouri and is made up of three separate areas. These areas are located in the floodplain (flat land next to a river that sometimes floods) on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river.
In 1998, the Great River Refuge was named a globally Important Bird Area. This means it's super important for many different kinds of birds, like shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl (birds that live on or near water, like ducks and geese). Because the refuge is close to St. Louis, it offers great chances for many people to learn about nature and wildlife.
The Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is also managed by the Great River Refuge. The Great River Refuge itself used to be part of a bigger group called the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This complex also included the Port Louisa, Two Rivers, and Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuges.
Protecting Wildlife: A Look at the Refuge's History
The Great River National Wildlife Refuge has a cool history of growing to protect more land for animals. It all started in 1958.
How the Refuge Began
One of the first parts of the refuge was the Long Island Division, near Quincy, Illinois. This area became part of the original Mark Twain Refuge when it was created in 1958. This happened thanks to a law called the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.
The Long Island Division is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. But it's managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to protect wildlife. They signed an agreement in 1963 to work together. Later, in 1986, another agreement added the 1,450-acre (5.9 km2) Bear Creek Unit to this division.
Adding More Land for Birds
Other parts of the refuge were bought using money from the sale of special stamps. These stamps are called migratory waterfowl stamps, and they help fund efforts to protect wetlands for ducks, geese, and other birds.
The 1,737-acre (7.03 km2) Delair Division was bought in 1965 and 1976 using these funds. This area is located within the 52-mile (84 km) long Sny Agricultural Levee District. It's separated from the main river by a large levee (a wall built to prevent flooding).
The Fox Island Division is the newest big addition to the Great River Refuge. It was also bought with money from migratory waterfowl stamps in 1989, 1996, and 1997. Many of these purchases happened after a huge flood in 1993. The flood made it possible to buy damaged floodplain areas at lower prices from people who wanted to sell their land. This was a great chance to expand the refuge!
The Great River Refuge also manages two smaller pieces of land. These are the 38-acre (150,000 m2) Winters tract in Lewis County and the 80-acre (320,000 m2) Owens tract in Clark County, both in Missouri. These lands used to be part of a different government program.
