Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge

The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States system of National Wildlife Refuges. It is located in Alfalfa County in northern Oklahoma, north of Jet (pop. 230), along Great Salt Plains Lake, which is formed by a dam on the Salt Fork of the Arkansas River.

The refuge was established March 26, 1930 by executive order of President Herbert Hoover and contains over 32,000 acres (50 km²) of protected land as habitat to approximately 312 species of birds and 30 species of mammals.

Refuge Designation

The refuge was created to be a resting and breeding ground for migratory waterfowl. Over 300 species of birds use the refuge throughout the year - most notably during fall and spring migrations.

The entire refuge is "Critical Habitat for the Endangered Whooping Crane". Most actively seen during fall migration, but also in the spring. In addition, the refuge is home to endangered least terns, threatened snowy plovers, threatened bald eagles, peregrine falcons and more.

Large populations of American White Pelicans migrate through in August/September, staying on the Great Salt Plains Reservoir.

The Ralstin Island Rookery (closed to the public) boasts being Oklahoma's Largest Rookery and houses more than 30,000 birds during breeding season. Over 30 species nesting in the colony, includes the white-faced ibis, great blue herons and most notably, the tricolored heron. Visitors can view up close island video footage in the refuge office by remote camera.

[http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/saltplains/birds.html SP Bird List]

Unique Recreation

A certain area of the 11,000 acre salt flats at the refuge has gypsum concentrations high enough to grow selenite crystals. The selenite crystals found here have an hourglass-shaped sand inclusion that is not known to occur in selenite crystals found elsewhere in the world.Fact|date=December 2007

Digging for crystals is generally allowed from April 1st through October 15th and visitors come from all over the world to find them.

Chemical Weapons

In 2007, a Boy Scout digging for crystals uncovered a collection of 7.5in vials containing things such as mustard gas. [http://www.wcsh6.com/news/watercooler/article.aspx?storyid=59265] [http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=e7e5c136-1e5e-4cee-9def-fc2f2e0b111d&f=00&fg=copy]

The 134 intact CAIS [https://www.denix.osd.mil/denix/Public/Library/Explosives/UXOSafety/cais.html] vials were part of World War II military Chemical Agent Identification Sets. And burying them was standard procedure for removing them from service at that time. There was no record of a disposal site at the salt plains. Crystal digging was temporarily suspended while the risk of allowing digging again was evaluated.

The salt plains were used as a bombing and strafing range during World War II. There are still remnants of this use left on the plains.

Informational Videos

Official Great Salt Plains Videos were created and are hosted on YouTube.They are part of a short series, which includes:

Let's Go Crystal Digging [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qYDZ3ehNz8] Great Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRW50vv9UWw&mode=related&search=] Let's Explore a Birding Paradise [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Z0zMUk-uo&mode=related&search=] Parks, Trails and Memorials of Alfalfa County [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4smDCxOFwqM] Byron State Fish Hatchery [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UKpxJju92M&mode=related&search=] Oklahoma Great Salt Plains State Park [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqBRBcdhXBU&mode=related&search=]

Interview with Refuge Manager regarding the Ralstin Island Rookery [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf4USvHaOJw&mode=related&search=]

External links

* [http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/saltplains/ Salt Plains NWR]