Shiawassee Flats

Although the Shiawassee Flats is not in Shiawassee County, it is part of the Shiawassee River Basin.

The Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge was established in March 1953 by authorization of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and the Michigan Conservation Commission for the purpose of restoring and enhancing a historically significant wetland area to benefit migrating waterfowl. With restoration of these wetland habitats and protection from human disturbance, peak populations of 25,000 Canada geese and 40,000 ducks occur during spring and fall migrations. The 9,000-acre refuge is located approximately 25 miles southwest of Saginaw Bay.

The refuge is home to a variety of species that are listed as threatened or endangered on either a Federal or state basis. These species include the Eastern fox snake, the short-eared owl, the Peregrine falcon and the least bittern. Fish found in refuge waters or expected to inhabit refuge waters include the lake sturgeon, a Michigan threatened species, and the river darter, a Michigan endangered species.

The Saginaw Bay watershed is historically one of the largest and most productive wetland ecosystems in Michigan. Today it boasts approximately 50,000 vistors each year. Large concentrations of duck, geese, swans, herons, raptors and shorebirds stop on migration.

Approximately three-fourths of the Refuge is wetland and bottomland hardwood habitat, with the remaining in cropland or moist soil units.