Cibola
Cibola, AZ 85328-9002
Plan Your Visit
Water Resources (2025 update)
Migratory waterfowl and other birds are at the heart of the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge experience each fall and winter. To support them, we rely on water from the Colorado River to fill wetlands like Hart Mine Marsh, Long Pond, Loafing Pond, and Cibola Lake.
Providing water isn’t always easy. When river levels drop too low, our pumps can’t operate safely, which limits how much water we can move onto the refuge. In fact, two pumps had to be replaced in 2024, and we now know they can only run when the river is at a safe level.
With drought continuing in the region, keeping enough water on the refuge is a constant challenge. We began filling our moist soil units last week and will do our best to hold water for wildlife and visitors throughout the season. Still, much depends on how high—or low—the river runs.
Visit Us
National wildlife refuges offer us all a chance to unplug from the stresses of daily life and reconnect with our natural surroundings. Visitors have an opportunity to connect with nature in multiple ways. The lower Colorado River and its backwaters provide numerous outdoor recreational opportunities as well as a vital resource: water!
There is no charge to visit. For hunting, specific permits like the Unit 2 Hunt lottery application are required. All hunters must carry a signed hunt brochure to act as a permit.
Activities
More Activities
Get Involved
Whether you want to further conservation, learn more about nature or share your love of the outdoors, you’ve come to the right place. National wildlife refuges provide many opportunities for you to help your community by doing what you love.
Services
At this field station our conservation toolbox includes: prescribed fire, agriculture for wildlife (farming), removal of invasive species, and restoration of riparian and wetland habitat. Law enforcement officers ensure the safety of the public and the protection of natural resources. Special Use Permits are required for research, commercial activities, and general uses that are not standard wildlife-related recreation.
About
Cibola National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1964 to mitigate the channelization of the Colorado River, protecting 18,444 acres of vital habitat for migratory waterfowl. The area is the ancestral home of the Yuma Tribes, specifically the Mohave and Quechan, who historically farmed the river's floodplain. Today, the refuge serves as a sanctuary where visitors can engage in wildlife watching, photography, hunting, and fishing while supporting the mission of habitat conservation.