The Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in north-central Colorado . It is one of over 560 national wildlife refuges which manages and protects natural resources for future generations . The refuge is located in North Park in central Jackson County south of the town of Walden . The refuge was established in 1967 to furnish waterfowl with a suitable place to nest and rear their young. It was created in part to offset losses of nesting habitat in the prairie wetland region of the Midwest . It is located in the valley of the Illinois River , a tributary of the North Platte River . It is administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service .
18-529: Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Wyoming is administered by Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge The dry climate of the area (at an elevation of approximately 8800 feet) requires the diversion of water from the Illinois River through a complex system of ditches to irrigate wetland meadows and fill water fowl brood ponds. Periodic burning, irrigation and various grazing systems are management tools used on
36-530: A sparsely populated area of the high plains in eastern Weld County, where it passes through three small towns, Briggsdale , New Raymer , and Stoneham . Along this stretch it passes alongside several parcels of the Pawnee National Grasslands. Its eastern terminus at Sterling is in central Logan County , along the South Platte River , just across the river from Interstate 76 . The section of
54-408: A winter population of more than 200 birds. Golden eagles , several species of hawks , and an occasional prairie falcon circle the skies above the refuge in search of food. Their prey includes Richardson's ground squirrel , white-tailed prairie dog , and white-tailed jackrabbit . Badger , muskrat , beaver , coyote , and pronghorn are commonly observed by visitors. It is also possible to see
72-459: Is located in southern Albany County in the U.S. state of Wyoming and includes 1,776 acres (7.2 km ). The refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service an agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior . Mortensen Lake NWR is a high altitude refuge and has several small alpine lakes of which Mortenson Lake is the largest. At 7,256 feet (2,211 m) above sea level,
90-586: The Front Range mountains in stormy winter weather. Going eastward from Muddy Pass southeast of Steamboat Springs, it transverses through North Park, first going northeast to Walden, then southeast through Gould along the valley of the Michigan River . It then transverses along the southern end of the Medicine Bow Mountains at Cameron Pass , where it enters Larimer County . It then descends through
108-702: The U.S. state of Colorado is an east–west state highway approximately 237 miles (381 km) long, making it the longest state highway in Colorado. It traverses four counties along the northern edge of the state, spanning a geography from the continental divide in the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains , and including North Park , the Poudre Canyon , and the Pawnee National Grassland . It provides
126-471: The continental divide, at a junction with U.S. Highway 40 at the summit of Muddy Pass along the border between Jackson and Grand counties. The eastern terminus is at a junction with U.S. Highway 6 in Sterling. The entire length of the highway is kept open year-round. Despite its western end being on the continental divide itself, Route 14 through Cameron Pass can be one of the more reliable routes across
144-417: The mammalian species of raccoon , red fox , mink , long-tailed weasel , or porcupine . As many as 400 mule deer have wintered here and up to 200 elk are frequently seen during the winter months. Moose have recently been reintroduced into North Park and may occasionally be observed in the willow thickets along the Illinois River bottoms. There are no venomous snakes in the refuge. Public access to
162-400: The most direct route from Fort Collins westward via Cameron Pass to Walden and Steamboat Springs , and eastward across the plains to Sterling . The highway is two-lane along its entire route, except for portions near Fort Collins where it is concurrent with U.S. Highway 287 , and east of Fort Collins near its interchange with Interstate 25 . The western terminus of the highway is on
180-755: The pass to the northwest along the valley of Joe Wright Creek to Chambers Lake , traveling through the mountains along the valley of the Cache la Poudre River and passing through the Poudre Canyon. It joins U.S. Highway 287 southbound at Teds Place , a longtime local landmark just east of the mouth of the Poudre Canyon. It is concurrent with U.S. Route 287 southward to Fort Collins, where it splits from 287, going east from downtown Fort Collins along East Mulberry Street and reaching Interstate 25 at exit 269. East of I-25, it enters Weld County and passes through Ault , where it intersects U.S. Highway 85 . East of Ault, it enters
198-517: The refuge includes a self-guided 6-mile wildlife auto tour route from nearby State Highway 14 , and an overlook over the Illinois River valley. Public fishing is permitted along the Illinois River except in the areas marked as closed. Portions of the refuge are open to public hunting of some game species during appropriate state seasons. The refuge is open for day-use only and is closed during night time except for staff members. Fires are not permitted on refuge lands. An 1850-foot ADA compliant boardwalk
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#1732868882249216-436: The refuge meadows to maintain vegetative vigor for nesting purposes. Manipulation of water levels in the shallow ponds is intended to assure adequate aquatic vegetation for food and escape cover. The ponds also produce many insects and other invertebrates ( protein ) needed by most female waterfowl for successful egg laying. These insects also serve as an essential food item for the growth of ducklings and goslings during
234-439: The refuge provides protection for numerous migratory bird species. In 1984, the Wyoming toad was listed as an endangered species and was widely believed to be extinct in the wild. A small population of the toad was rediscovered in 1987 in the area surrounding Mortenson Lake which led to the establishment of the refuge in 1993. Since 1995, offspring from captured examples of this extremely rare amphibian have been released into
252-908: The refuge. Primary upland nesting species include the mallard , pintail , gadwall , and American wigeon . Several diving ducks, including the lesser scaup and redhead , nest on the larger ponds and adjacent wet meadows . Most species may be observed during the entire summer season. Fall migration reaches its height in late September or early October when up to 8,000 waterfowl may be on the refuge. Refuge wetlands also attract numerous marsh, shore, and water birds. Sora and Virginia rails - shy, secretive birds - are numerous but seldom seen. If they are present, Wilson's phalarope , American avocet , willet , sandpipers , Greater yellowlegs , and dowitchers will be easy to observe. Other less common species include great blue heron , black-crowned night heron , American bittern , and eared and pied-billed grebe . The upland hills harbor sage grouse year around with
270-516: The road in Fort Collins that is concurrent with Jefferson Street and Riverside Avenue follows a section of the Overland Trail , a stage route and emigrant trail used in the 1860s. The section in Fort Collins was known as the "Denver Road". The section up the Poudre Canyon was built in the 1920s. The route as a Colorado state highway was established in the 1920s from its current western terminus all
288-725: The summer months. The first waterfowl arrive at the refuge in the spring when the ice vanishes in April. The peak migration occurs in late May when 5,000 or more ducks may be present. Canada geese have been reestablished in North Park and begin nesting on the refuge during April. Duck nesting usually starts in early June and peaks in late June. The refuge produces about 9,000 ducklings and 150 to 200 goslings each year. The Fish and Wildlife Service expects that when refuge lands are fully acquired and developed, waterfowl production should increase significantly. There have been 198 bird species recorded in
306-518: The wild to help stabilize the remaining population. The refuge is closed to all public access to aid in recovery efforts of this endangered species. Mortenson NWR is administered by Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge in Colorado . This article related to a protected area in Wyoming is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Colorado State Highway 14 State Highway 14 ( SH 14 ) in
324-484: Was completed in August 2009 by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers . The volunteers built it over 5 years, with more than 6,000 man hours of labor. It winds along with parts of the river where numerous animals and birds can be seen. Moose can often be seen among the willows. The boardwalk is about a mile southwest of the refuge headquarters. Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge Mortenson Lake National Wildlife Refuge
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