Refuge staff use a variety of habitat management techniques to maintain, recover or enhance plant and wildlife values. Management techniques are carefully considered and employed in varying degrees according to needs. 

Water levels are carefully monitored and controlled to foster desired plant growth. Sometimes, sensitive areas are closed to the public so that the land can recover more quickly.   Prescribed burning, mowing, experimental bio-control insect releases, and seeding are also some techniques used to help native plants recover on national wildlife refuges.

Standardized ground and aerial wildlife and vegetation surveys are conducted on refuges throughout the year to inventory populations and document habitat use. Units are evaluated by how well they met habitat and wildlife use objectives. 

Public involvement and input are important to us and to the planning process, and we hope you will take an active interest in this process, individually and as a community. 

Bear River Refuge staff set habitat objectives by linking ecological and physical aspects of Refuge lands with priority species requirements. Objectives concisely state habitat conditions needed for priority species. Finally, Refuge staff use ecological data, scientific literature, expert opinion, key historical Refuge data, and staff expertise to generate a list of potential management strategies for each habitat type.  The most appropriate management strategy is selected each year during the annual habitat management process.  The strategy selection is based on the effect of management on habitat and species of concern from the previous year, as captured through monitoring, as well as on the predicted water supply of the Bear River for the coming year.