Canada Geese, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Wyoming. (Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS)
Wetlands such as marshes, swamps, sloughs and bayous play a vital role in filtering groundwater, controlling runoff, easing flooding, capturing carbon from the atmosphere, and protecting native plants and animals. The National Wildlife Refuge System conserves a sizable share of public wetlands for the benefit of wildlife and people.
Wetlands Across the Refuge System
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Prairie Potholes In this glacier-carved Upper Midwest region known as the “Duck Factory” of North America, thousands of waterfowl production areas offer unparalleled birding and hunting opportunities. -
Marshes and Playa Ponds Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in northern Utah is a distinctive area where the freshwater of the Bear River meets the brackish Great Salt Lake. American avocets nest along the briny shores. -
Swamps
The 700-square-mile swamp at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southern Georgia provides habitat for wading birds, American alligators and other wildlife.
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Desert Oases Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada is the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert, home to relict species of desert fish that have existed since mammoths drank from the same springs. Learn more. -
Tidal Wetlands Tides carry nutrients to vibrant wildlife communities in coastal wetlands. A wetland restoration at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge is restoring vital habitat in the heart of Silicon Valley. -
Boreal Wetland Basins
Each summer, boreal wetlands at Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska are a gathering point for North America’s breeding birds. Learn more.
White pelicans, Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota (Photo: Tom Koerner/USFWS)
For the Birds
Wetlands provide important stopovers for birds heading south in the fall and back north in spring on treacherous annual migrations. More than 200 Refuge System units are clustered along the Northern Hemisphere’s four major migratory bird flyways. These refuges provide critical feeding, breeding, nesting and resting habitat for migratory birds. Millions of birders and nature-lovers follow these migrations from refuge to refuge, bringing vital ecotourism dollars to communities along the way. See our Bird Festival Planner to find a festival near you.
Wetland Conservation
For decades, funds generated by the sales of Federal Duck Stamps to waterfowl hunters and other conservationists have helped protect vital wetlands and grasslands across America’s heartland. These protected areas are called waterfowl production areas, and they are part of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
National Wetlands Inventory
Pintail duck. (Photo: USFWS)