John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map showing the location of John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

Map of the United States

Location Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Nearest city Narragansett, Rhode Island
Coordinates 41°30′04″N 71°25′38″W / 41.50121°N 71.42727°W / 41.50121; -71.42727[1]Coordinates: 41°30′04″N 71°25′38″W / 41.50121°N 71.42727°W / 41.50121; -71.42727[2]
Area 317 acres (1.28 km2)
Established 1988
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge

Located within the picturesque Narrow River on the Southern Coast of Rhode Island, the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge is comparatively small in size, but big in protecting the unique features of this area.

At 317 acres (128 ha), the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge provides habitat for the largest American black duck population in Rhode Island, and is recognized under international agreements as a critically important area for this species. The scenic vistas offered by the refuge and surrounding areas is well noted and attracts people from throughout the region.

Originally named the Pettaquamscutt Cove National Wildlife Refuge in 1988, it was renamed the John H. Chafee National Wildlife Refuge in 1999, in honor of the late Senator who was a leading conservationist in the nation, and a strong supporter of the Refuges in Rhode Island. It is located in the Towns of Narragansett and South Kingstown.

This unique National Wildlife Refuge is administered as part of the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex which manages all five of the National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island, headquartered in Charlestown, Rhode Island.

The refuge contains expansive salt marsh habitats and adjacent uplands which teem with a variety of wildlife including great egrets, herons, and several species of plovers and other shorebirds.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/19/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.