About Us

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Panhandle of Western Nebraska. Established in 1916, the Refuge is superimposed over four Bureau of Reclamation irrigation projects: Lake Minatare, Winters Creek Lake, Lake Alice, and Stateline Island.

Boasting abundant wildlife, the North Platte NWR units contain a mixture of native prairie and woodland habitat. Whether the Refuge unit is surrounded by water (Stateline Island) or bordering a reservoir (Lake Alice, Lake Minatare, and Winters Creek), riparian habitat is a key feature of this Refuge.

The water bodies attract an abundance of waterfowl and shorebirds, and the riparian edges support songbirds, raptors, and a variety of other birds. Additionally, 21 mammals including both mule and white-tailed deer, may be seen throughout the year. During the warmer months, 17 species of reptiles and amphibians may also be observed.

Our Mission

Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System is established to conserve native species and the lands and waters on which they depend. All activities on those acres are reviewed to ensure they are compatible with the refuge purpose.

North Platte National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1916 by Executive Order No. 2446 as a “preserve and breeding ground for native birds.” It is located in the Nebraska Panhandle, near Scottsbluff, Nebraska. It was declared a National Wildlife Refuge primarily because of large fall concentrations of up to 250,000 mallards, 11,000 Canada geese and bald eagles.

Our History

The North Platte National Wildlife Refuge is made up of Lake Minatare, Winter's Creek Lake, Lake Alice and Stateline Island in the North Platte River. While portions of Winters Creek Lake and Lake Alice are closed to all public entry, the remainder is open to a variety of public uses most of the year. 

Originally, the Refuge included four irrigation reservoirs which were constructed between 1910 and 1917. Three of these are still part of the Refuge: Lake Minatare - 737 acres; Winters Creek - 536 acres; and Lake Alice - 1,500 acres. The Little Lake Alice reservoir was removed from the Refuge System in 1961. In 1990, the Fish and Wildlife Service assumed management of Stateline Island, a 136-acre diversion project on the North Platte River.

Recreation at Lake Minatare has an established importance to the community, so a portion of the lake (2,470 acres) was removed from the Refuge System by Congress in 1996, with provision that the site would be closed during fall and winter months to provide a safe resting place for migratory birds.