Sample Refuge Descriptions
Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge Description The refuge is located in Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, about 15 miles south of the Oklahoma/Kansas state line. The refuge headquarters is located 1.5 miles southwest of the junction of State Highways 11 & 38. The town of Cherokee is located 14 road miles to the west and the town of Jet is located 14 road miles south of the refuge headquarters. The refuge is approximately 50 miles northwest of Enid, Oklahoma. Salt Plains NWR includes more than 32,000 acres, the majority comprising the Great Salt Plains Lake and the salt flats. The refuge consists of withheld lands; Corps overlay lands, and fee title lands. The Great Salt Plains Lake lies in the drainage of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River and is a popular local and tourist recreational area. The refuge is divided into almost equal parts of salt flats, open water, and vegetated land. More specifically, the refuge encompasses about 8,500 acres of the Great Salt Plains Lake; about 11,238 acres of level, salt-encrusted plains; 1,070 acres of manageable freshwater pools and moist soil units; 4,500 acres of grasslands; 3,700 acres of brushlands; 1,110 acres of woodlands, and 345 acres of riparian bottomlands. Additionally, there are 1,250 acres of cropland, and 315 acres of administrative lands including headquarters, roads, trails, etc. The salt flats are located on the western side of the refuge, with the lake in the eastern portion. Ralstin Island is located in the northern portion of the lake and is used extensively for nesting by colonial water birds. The salt flats may not seem hospitable to wildlife, but are a major nesting site for the endangered least tern as well as the snowy plover, and American avocet. The flats are also a major migratory stopover for thousands of shorebirds during the spring and fall seasons. Shorebirds often feed on the swarms of salt brine flies that hatch when water is available. Salt Plains NWR is the only known site where unique selenite crystals with hourglass inclusions are found. These crystals grow in a portion of the salt flats and are formed by the interaction of saline water and gypsum. Selenite crystals continue to grow in the salt flats as long as saline water conditions are maintained. Area Economy Salt Plains NWR is located in northern Oklahoma. Table 2-46 shows the area economy. The area population increased by 10 percent from 2001 to 2011, compared with a 9 percent increase for Oklahoma and a 9 percent increase for the U.S. as a whole. Area employment increased by 7 percent from 2001 to 2011, with Oklahoma showing an 8 percent increase and the U.S. a 6 percent increase. Area per capita income increased by 11 percent over the 2001-2011 period, while Oklahoma and the U.S. increased by 13 and 5 percent respectively.
107