Havasu National Wildlife Refuge#Topock Marsh
{{short description|National Wildlife Refuge in California and Arizona in the United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{more footnotes needed|date=April 2017}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Havasu National Wildlife Refuge
| iucn_category = IV
| map = USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Map of the United States
| map_width = 300
| photo = Havasu National Wildlife Refuge.jpg
| photo_caption =
| photo_width =
| location = Mohave County, Arizona /
San Bernardino County, California, U.S.
| nearest_city = Needles, California
| coordinates = {{coord|34.6095812|-114.4173321|region:US|display=inline, title}}
| area = {{convert|37515|acre|km2|abbr=on}}
| established = 1941
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
| website = {{URL|http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Havasu}}
}}
Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is a U.S. National Wildlife Refuge on the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California. It preserves habitat for wildlife like desert bighorn sheep, the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, the threatened Yuma Ridgways Rail and other animals. The refuge protects 30 river miles - {{convert|300|mi|km}} of shoreline - from Needles, California, to Lake Havasu City, Arizona. One of the last remaining natural stretches of the lower Colorado River flows through the {{convert|20|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} Topock Gorge.
Species
Animal species that inhabit this refuge include peregrine falcon, coyote, fox, desert bighorn sheep, greater roadrunner, bobcat, and cougar. Thousands of bats emerge from historic mines and razorback suckers swim in the back of Mohave Valley Lake.
Support
A large river in a dry, hot land attracts wildlife and people like a powerful magnet. Many millions of visitors annually flock to the refuge to boat through the Topock Gorge, watch waterbirds in Topock Marsh, or hike to the Havasu Wilderness Area.
A non-profit membership organization supports and advocates for the refuge. It assists refuge staff with several of the refuge annual events, help to obtain grants to support refuge projects, conducts fund-raising activities to support environmental education programs, and helps the United States Fish and Wildlife Service operate and maintain the refuge facilities and programs by providing volunteer labor.
Locations
{{Infobox park
|name = Fivemile Landing, Arizona
|image_map =
|map_caption = Location within Mohave County
|elevation = {{cvt|463|ft}}{{Cite GNIS|24417|Feature Detail Report for: Fivemile Landing}}
|coordinates = {{coord|34|47|43|N|114|30|21|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline}}
|free_label = GNIS feature ID
|free_data = {{GNIS4|24417}}
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
=Five Mile Landing=
To aid visitors to the Colorado River, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had previously allowed a private concessioner to operate a boat launch, canoe rental, campsite, RV site, and a store in the refuge at Five-Mile Landing, a {{cvt|35|acre|adj=on}} site with boat ramps at Topock Marsh in the northern part of the refuge.{{cite news |title=Concessionaire sought for Five-Mile landing operation |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66166797/needles-desert-star/ |work=Needles Desert Stat |date=July 26, 2006 |location=Needles, California |page=8}}
=Topock Marsh=
The Topock Marsh is one of the larger birding sites found in the Lower Colorado River Valley, between Hoover Dam and the Colorado River Delta.
=Catfish Paradise=
Catfish Paradise is an area located at the southern end of the Topock Marsh.{{GNIS|24348}} Many species living in the area include Bullfrogs, Carp, Sunfish, Catfish (Channel), Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Tilapia.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Include-USGov|agency=United States Fish and Wildlife Service}}
External links
{{commons category|Havasu National Wildlife Refuge}}
- {{official website|https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Havasu/}}
- [http://www.billwilliamsriver-havasufriends.org/ Friends of the Bill Williams River and Havasu National Wildlife Refuges]
- [http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r2/havasu.htm Bird Checklist for Havasu National Wildlife Refuge]
{{Protected Areas of Arizona}}
{{National Wildlife Refuges of the United States}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Lower Colorado River Valley
Category:National Wildlife Refuges in Arizona
Category:National Wildlife Refuges in California
Category:Protected areas of Mohave County, Arizona
Category:Protected areas of San Bernardino County, California
Category:Protected areas of the Colorado Desert
Category:Protected areas of the Mojave Desert
Category:Protected areas of the Sonoran Desert
Category:Protected areas on the Colorado River
Category:Wilderness areas within the Lower Colorado River Valley