U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service logo National Wildlife Refuge System Logo Celebrating a Century of Conservation
Banner graphic displaying the Fish & Wildlife Service logo, the National Wildlife Refuge System logo and the Celebrating a Century of Conservation tagline
Imperial
National Wildlife Refuge		 This image is a scene of the Chocolate Mountains in the background and the Colorado River in the foreground.
P.O. Box 72217
Yuma, AZ   85365
E-mail:
Phone Number:
Visit the Refuge's Web Site:
http://southwest.fws.gov/refuges/arizona/imperial.html		 Scenic image of Imperial National Wildlife Refuge.
Blue horizontal line
  Overview
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last unchannelized section before the river enters Mexico.

The river and its associated backwater lakes and wetlands are a green oasis, contrasting with the surrounding desert mountains.

More than 15,000 acres of Imperial National Wildlfie Refuge is designated as wilderness. Wilderness is protected to ensure that nature, not people is the primary influence on this quiet, scenic place.


Getting There . . .
From Yuma: Travel north on Highway 95 for 25 miles. Turn west on Martinez Lake Road for 13 miles and follow signs to visitor center.

Get Google map and directions to this refuge/WMD from a specified address:

Your full starting address AND town and state OR zip code


Google Maps opens in a new window

NOTE: When using this feature, you will be leaving the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service domain. We do not control the content or policies of the site you are about to visit. You should always check site policies before providing personal information or reusing content.

These driving directions are provided as a general guide only. No representation is made or warranty given as to their content, road conditions or route usability or expeditiousness. User assumes all risk of use.

horizontal line

Wildlife and Habitat
In the desert, wildlife such as black-tailed jackrabbits and western whiptail lizards are plentiful. Watch at dawn and dusk for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer heading to the river for a drink.

Ducks, geese, shorebirds, and other waterbirds flock to the lower Colorado River each year to spend the winter. Cinnamon teal and Northern pintail are just a few of the species

Learn More>>


History
At one time, the banks of the Colorado River were lined with cottonwood and willow forests, sustained by the river's natural periodic flooding. Animals depended on this green forest oasis for breeding, resting, feeding, and shade.

Woodcutting during the steamboat era, clearing for agriculture, wild fire, exotic plants like salt cedar, and use of dams for flood prevention have devastated cottonwood and willow stands along the lower Colorado River. Some animals that depend on these forests, such as the southwestern willow flycatcher, have become endangered.

Learn More>>

    Recreation and Education Opportunities
Fishing
Hunting
Interpretation
Photography
Wildlife Observation
 Learn More >>

Dark blue horizontal line

Managment Activities

Refuge staff and volunteers are working to restore wetlands, protect backwater lakes, manage marsh units, and farm croplands to provide food and resting areas for winter residents. Refuge staff are partnering with other agencies and organizations to plant cottonwood and willow trees. Control of salt cedar is another important management technique used at the refuge.

Learn More>>