Completed Plan Contacts

The Service completed this plan
in 2007.

REFUGE COMPLEX EMAIL

medicinelake@fws.gov

REFUGE COMPLEX ADDRESS

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex
223 North Shore Road
Medicine Lake, Montana 59247

REFUGE COMPLEX TELEPHONE
406 / 789 2305

REFUGE COMPLEX WEB SITES

www.fws.gov/medicinelake
Medicine Lake refuge profile

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Montana

Description | Documents

Description

This plan is for the following units of the refuge complex:

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Montana Wetland Management District
Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge

The comprehensive conservation plan sets the management and use of the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge Complex for 15 years. Every spring and fall, the big sky country of northeastern Montana is filled with the clamor of bird calls. Many migrating birds stop at the refuge complex along the glaciated, rolling plains between the Missouri River and the Canadian border. With a bird list of more than 280 species, the refuge complex is one of the top 100 globally important bird areas in the United States, as designated by the National Audubon Society.

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge

The purpose of the refuge is "to effectuate further the purposes of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act" and "as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife" (Executive Order 7148).

Established in 1935.
Comprises 31,660 acres, including the 11,360-acre Medicine Lake Wilderness.
Located near the town of Medicine Lake, Montana, in Sheridan and Roosevelt counties.

The refuge contains 22 natural and artificial lakes and managed impoundments. The rolling hills and sand dunes around Medicine Lake make up the most extensive sandhill formation in Montana. Year-round residents at the refuge include white-tailed and mule deer, coyote, badger, beaver, sharp-tailed grouse, and pheasant.

Northeast Montana Wetland Management District

The purpose of the Northeast Montana Wetland Management District is to provide breeding habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Established in 1968.
Comprises 11,791 acres in 44 waterfowl production areas and 19,556 acres in grassland and wetland conservation easements.
Located in Sheridan, Daniels, and Roosevelt counties.

Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge

The purpose of refuge is "as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife" (Executive Order 9166).

Established in 1942.
Is an 800-acre conservation easement.
Located 20 miles southeast of Wibaux, Montana, in Wibaux County.
Administered as a satellite refuge by Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge, 160 miles north.

The plan

The following are major actions in the comprehensive conservation plan for the Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Northeast Montana Wetland Management District:

Conserve natural resources by restoring or protecting native, mixed-grass prairie while maintaining quality nesting habitat.
Focus visitor services funding on developing access for visitors of all abilities and improving opportunities for wildlife-dependent use.
Encourage a greater understanding and appreciation for migratory birds and other native wildlife, the mixed-grass prairie, the wilderness, and the National Wildlife Refuge System.

The plan's major action for Lamesteer National Wildlife Refuge is a proposal to remove the refuge from the National Wildlife Refuge System and relinquish the easement to the current landowners.