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The Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge, surrounding Lake Lowell, provides habitat for wintering waterfowl and nesting Canada geese.
The refuge includes 94 islands on the Snake River. Island cover is varied, with grass, brush and trees providing wildlife habitat. Elsewhere, the refuge is a mix of sage brush, rabbit brush and grass habitats and riparian zones occupied by cottonwood and willow trees.
A refuge visitor center has interpretive displays and a half-mile nature trail. Picnic and group use facilities are available in the Lower Dam recreation area and at the Canyon County Park at the east end of Upper Dam.
Motored boats and sail-powered craft may be used on Lake Lowell during daylight hours from April 15 through Sept. 30. Launch facilities are located at Lower Dam and the east and west ends of Upper Dam.
Fishing, permitted year-round in designated areas, is for largemouth bass, bullhead, crappie, trout, perch, bluegill, smallmouth bass, and channel catfish.
Duck, coot and upland game bird hunting is permitted in designated areas.
There are excellent opportunities for wildlife observation and photography. More than 210 species of birds have been seen on the refuge. Spectacular concentrations of waterfowl occur on the Lake Lowell sector during peak migration. Large numbers of birds begin to move into the area in September, and by the first of December, up to 10,000 geese and 100,000 ducks may be present.
Mallards predominate, but small numbers of pintail, American wigeon, green-winged teal, wood duck, common merganser, and northern shoveler are also present. A local Canada goose flock of 7,000 is joined in the fall by migrant geese from the north.
Winter concentrations of waterfowl attract bald eagles. Other raptors found during the fall and winter include the red-tailed hawk, northern harrier, American kestrel, goshawk, Cooper's hawk, golden eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, rough-legged hawk, prairie falcon, great horned owl, and peregrine falcon.
Spring and summer nesting marsh and water birds include western grebe, great blue heron, and black-crowned night heron. During this time, double-crested cormorants, white pelicans, ring-billed gulls, Caspian terns, and California gulls are also commonly seen.
Resident wildlife include ring-necked pheasant, California quail, mule deer, black-billed magpies, and coyotes.
Overnight camping is not permitted on the refuge.
The refuge is open during daylight hours only.
Outdoor Activities |
Goslings at a Snake River Island nest.
Smartweed thrives in the shallows of Lake Lowell.
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