On its journey to the Great Salt Lake, the Bear River’s 350-mile length takes one of the most circuitous river routes in America. Its giant, inverted “U” shape begins in Utah’s Uinta Mountains, then snakes north into Wyoming and Idaho, and back south into Utah to meet the Great Salt Lake.

Here, the marshes at the mouth of the Bear River are among the greatest producers of waterfowl in the country. In the middle of the desert, this freshwater oasis hosts a phenomenal gathering of birds to rest, feed, nest and rear their young. Set aside by the public in 1929 as the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, this area sees more than 200 species and millions of birds throughout the year, much to the delight of upwards of 50,000 people who visit each year.

Now, we have an exciting opportunity to protect additional Bear River marsh land, adding to the Refuge. Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased 424 acres and conveyed them to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the 74,000-acre Refuge. We plan to purchase the remainder of this 696-acre property in future phases, as well as other nearby wetland properties totaling thousands of acres.

These properties will enhance the offerings of the refuge, as they have excellent and diverse wetland habitat, including open water and upland areas. This project will conserve feeding, nesting and rearing areas for a tremendous array of waterfowl, including ducks, geese, egrets, avocets, tundra swan, American Pelican and black-necked stilts.