Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Status:	Recognized	Area:	24500 acres (9915 hectares)
County:	Chaves	Elevation:	3487 feet (1063 meters)
Town:	Roswell	Location:	33°27.51’N, 104°24.23’W

Ownership	US Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 7, Roswell NM 88202, 505-622-6755
Habitats	Shrub/grassland, inland wetlands
Land-use	Nature conservation/research
Threats	Introduced plants, groundwater abstraction, urbanization
Site Criteria	State conservation species (D1), State waterfowl (D4ii), State wading birds (D4iii), State shorebirds (D4v)
Site Description	The refuge lies within Lower Pecos Valley subsection of the Great Plains Physiographic Province. Vegetation is mixed Chihuahuan shrub/grassland. The Pecos River flows through all three tracts of the refuge with an additional 750 acres of artificial impoundment and associated wetlands, Bitter Lake Playa and numerous sinkholes. There are 6 federally listed species, 15 state listed species mostly associated with isolated saline and freshwater wetlands. There are 30000-50000 visitors per year. In the surrounding area there are additional wetlands and lakes that also serve as resting, wintering, and feeding grounds for a variety of waterfowl. These include the two closed, spring-fed oxbow lakes joined by a small stream and draining into Spring River. The land is owned by four families. A small copse of elm and salt cedar provides cover.  Landowners are careful of visitors and usually only allow bird counters into the area. These lakes are rarely disturbed and are large enough to provide winter grounds for 500-3000 waterfowl including rarities such as Greater Scaup and Wood Duck.
Birds	Approximately 15 pairs of Black-necked Stilt, 45 pairs of American Avocet, 5 pairs of Least Tern, and 60 pairs of Snowy Plover nest on the refuge. While migrating populations of Wilson's Phalarope peak near 600 birds in spring and 500 in fall. Duck populations peak in the fall at 6000-10,000 with Northern Pintail comprising half that number. Migrants include 8000 Snow and Ross’ geese and 4000 Sandhill Cranes. All of the above bird activity is centered around 500 acres of natural and artificial wetlands.
Conservation Issues	1. To restore and maintain selected portions of a hydrological system that more closely mimics the natural processes along the reach of the Pecos River adjacent to Bitter Lake NWR by restoring the river channel. 2. To protect non-riverine wetlands from further groundwater loss and from potential contamination by development adjacent to the refuge. 3. To understand, protect and restore breeding and residential populations of federal and state listed endangered and threatened species.
Conservation Plan
Monitor(s)	None assigned.
Nominator	Gordon Warrick, Bitter Lake NWR, PO Box 7, Roswell, NM, 88202, 505-622-6755-18 Sherry Bixler, 205 Tierra Berrenda, Roswell NM 88201, 505-622-0597
Sources	Weekly Waterbird Surveys 1997-1998 (WWS) Christmas Bird Count Roswell {NMRO} (CBC)
Links	Bitter Lake NWR Friends of Bitter Lake Christmas Bird Count eBird New Mexico Hot Spot
Directions	From US-285 at the north side of Roswell, turn east onto NM-246 and follow the road to the refuge.

Species	Year	Status	Population	Source	Criteria
American Avocet	97-98	Breeding	average 45 pair	WWS	D1
Canada Goose	94-05	Winter	1634 individuals average, 3214 individuals maximum	CBC	D4ii
Canvasback	94-05	Winter	110 individuals average, 319 individuals maximum	CBC	D1
Least Tern	97-98	Breeding	average 5 pair	WWS	D1
Lesser Scaup	94-05	Winter	27 individuals average, 66 individuals maximum	CBC	D1
Marsh Wren	94-05	Winter	14 individuals average, 32 individuals maximum	CBC	D1
Redhead	94-05	Winter	176 individuals average, 323 individuals maximum	CBC	D1
Ross' Goose	97-98 95-04	Passage Winter	average 3200 individuals 4376 individuals average, 11194 individuals maximum	WWS CBC	D4ii
Sandhill Crane	97-98 95-04	Passage Winter	average 4000 individuals 4366 individuals average, 7849 individuals maximum	WWS CBC	D4iii
Snow Goose	97-98 95-04	Passage Winter	average 4800 individuals 4677 individuals average, 9259 individuals maximum	WWS CBC	D4ii
Snowy Plover	97-98	Breeding	average 60 pair	WWS	D1

 
Last Updated 11/13/07