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The Nine-Pipe refuge is an easement refuge located on the tribal trust lands of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes, six miles south of Ronan. The refuge was established to protect habitat for nesting and migrating waterfowl.
The refuge covers 2,000 acres of water, marsh, and upland grassland. Shaped by glacial activity about 12,000 years ago, the terrain is rolling and interspersed with many pothole wetlands.
Fishing is permitted on Nine-Pipe for yellow perch and largemouth bass. Ice fishing is permitted after the waterfowl hunting season ends in January.
Photography and wildlife observation are encouraged.
Waterfowl numbers vary throughout the year. The most numerous nesting species are Canada geese, mallards, and redheads.
Pintail, American widgeon, shoveler, blue and green-winged teal, ruddy duck, gadwall, common merganser and coot are also present.
Other species of water, marsh and upland birds are abundant from May to October. There are large great blue heron and double-crested cormorant rookeries on the refuge.
Common mammals are field mice, meadow vole, muskrat and striped skunk. Mink, badgers, porcupines and grizzly bear also have been seen.
A kiosk at the dike area off State Hwy. 212 has information on waterfowl as well as fishing regulations.
A viewing area established by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is located off Hwy. 93. The area contains a parking lot, restrooms, interpretive signs on wildlife and habitat, and a short, wheelchair-accessible trail along the shore of Nine-Pipe Reservoir.
Although water levels are controlled primarily for irrigation and flood control, the refuge works closely with the Flathead Irrigation Project to make sure water levels are maintained to accommodate nesting waterfowl.
Portions of the refuge are closed each spring to minimize disturbance to nesting areas and closed again each fall during hunting season. However, no hunting is allowed on the refuge itself.
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