Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge | |
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IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
Map of the United States | |
Location | La Paz / Mohave counties, Arizona, United States |
Nearest city | Parker, AZ / Lake Havasu City, AZ |
Coordinates | 34°16′09″N 114°02′44″W / 34.269201°N 114.045492°W |
Area | 6,105 acres (24.71 km2) |
Established | 1941, 1993 (as Bill Williams)[1] |
Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
Website | Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge |
The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge protects the lower course of the
The federal
Natural history
The habitats of the refuge are a unique blend of Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert uplands, desert riparian zones, and marsh wetlands habitats, provides for a diverse array of flora and fauna.[4]
Flora
The
The refuge protects the largest remaining stand of the cottonwood-willow forests plant community along the lower Colorado River, with Fremont's cottonwood (Populus fremontii) and Goodding's willow (Salix gooddingii) the primary tree species.[4]
Fauna
The rare desert context
The refuge is host to some endangered bird species, including the southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus), which nests on the refuge; and the Yuma rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) which lives in the marsh's broadleaf cattail colonies, and is endemic to the Lower Colorado River Valley.[6]
This refuge's wildlife includes:[3][5]
- Birds: southwestern willow flycatcher, vermilion flycatcher, yellow-billed cuckoo, western tanager, lazuli bunting, Yuma rail
- Mammals: ring-tailed cat.
- Amphibians: Colorado River toad (Incilius alvarius)
- Fish: razorback sucker and bonytail chub.
Friends of the Refuge
The Friends of the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges is a
See also
- Category:Natural history of the Lower Colorado River Valley
- Category:Wilderness areas within the Lower Colorado River Valley
References
- ^ "About the Refuge – Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
- ^ US-FWS: Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge . accessed 6.4.2014
- ^ a b Recreation.gov: Bill Williams River Wildlife Refuge info
- ^ a b c US-FWS: Bill Williams River Overview . accessed 6.4.2014
- ^ a b US-FWS: Wildlife and habitat of the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge
- ^ US-FWS: Southwestern Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) — description, distribution, photo.
- ^ Friends of the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges
External links
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Official Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge website
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Bill Williams River introduction + overview
- Official Friends of the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges website
- Bird Checklist for Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge