Phone: 660-856-3323 |
Contacting the Refuge:
Refuge Manager: Steve Whitson
e-mail: SwanLake@fws.gov16194 Swan Lake Ave.
Sumner, MO 64681
Phone: 660-856-3323
Fax: 660-856-3687
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)Located 30 miles southeast of Chillicothe, Missouri, on County Road RA
Refuge Facts
Established: 1937
Acres: 10,795
Designated as a regional site under the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
Large wintering area for the eastern prairie population of Canada geese and Mississippi flyway duck populations
Peak fall migration of ducks exceeds 100,000 birds
Over 100 wintering bald eagles on refuge
Financial Impact of Refuge
Four person staff
17,000 visitors annually
FY 2006 Budget: $319,000
Natural History
The majority of the current refuge land was once cleared and converted to farmland
The refuge has turned this lowlying farmland into productive wetlands for migratory birds
Refuge lies entirely within the floodplain of the Grand River near its confluence with the Missouri River
The Yellow Creek Research Natural Area is one of the few remaining old growth bottomland hardwood habitats in the state
Refuge Objectives
Provide resting, nesting and feeding habitat for waterfowl and other migratory birds
Provide habitat for resident wildlife
Protect endangered and threatened species
Provide for biodiversity
Provide public opportunities for outdoor recreation and environmental education
Management Tools
Wetland restoration
Cooperative farming
Water management
Outreach and environmental education
Grassland management
Moist soil management
Public Use Opportunities
Hunting and fishing
Environmental education
Wildlife observation
Hiking
