Sample Refuge and Management District Descriptions
National Bison Range Description The National Bison Range, its two satellite refuges (Ninepipe and Pablo NWRs), and 9 units of the Northwest Montana Waterfowl Production Area (Lake County) are situated in the intermountain Mission Valley with spectacular views of the snowcapped Mission Mountains. Rolling hills, native intermountain prairie, and numerous glacial potholes provide diverse habitats for fish, wildlife and birds. Much of the valley was once inundated by prehistoric Lake Missoula, which was formed by a glacial dam on the Clark Fork River. Geologists believe the ice dam formed, broke, and reformed as many as 40 times over the time frame of 10,000 to 100,000 years ago. Old beach lines are still evident on north–facing slopes. The National Bison Range, established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, maintains a herd of 325-350 bison on 18,766 acres. These bison have a high level of genetic diversity, and, of all the federal herds currently tested, it has one of the highest levels of allelic richness, heterozygosity, and private alleles. It is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the nation and has the distinction of being the first Congressional appropriations ever made for the purchase of lands for a wildlife refuge. The original herd of bison, on the other hand, was purchased with private money raised by the American Bison Society and donated to the Refuge. The Bison Range is visited each year by more than 120,000 people who experience excellent wildlife viewing and photographic opportunities. The refuge provides environmental education programs for more than 3,000 school children every year. Ninepipe and Pablo NWRs are overlay refuges on Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal land surrounding irrigation reservoirs. The 1921 establishing legislation set up the refuges to function “as a refuge and breeding ground for native birds.� In conjunction with the nine units of the Northwest Montana WMD, the lands provide for numerous waterfowl and wetland birds, including a large number of duck species, grebes, great blue heron and double crested cormorant rookeries, breeding terns, bald eagle and osprey nests, avocets, stilts and phalaropes. The uplands provide for high concentrations of nesting northern harriers and short eared owls as well as wintering grounds for rough legged hawks. These are premier bird watching areas. Area Economy The National Bison Range is located in northwestern Montana. Table 6-21 shows the area economy. The area population increased by 15 percent from 2001 to 2011, compared with a 10 percent increase for Montana and a 9 percent increase for the U.S. as a whole. Area employment increased by 11 percent from 2001 to 2011, with Montana showing a 12 percent increase and the U.S. a 6 percent increase. Per capita income in the area increased by 5 percent over the 2001-2011 period, while Montana and the U.S. increased by 12 and 5 percent respectively.
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