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

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.

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

• 
  Cluster Typically Found, Showing the Hourglass-shaped Sand Inclusion
• 
  Blade / Penetration Twins
• Crystals Being Unearthed in a Really Good Spot
  Crystals Being Unearthed in a Really Good Spot
• Washing the sand off of crystals
  Washing the sand off of crystals
• View of the Crystal Digging Areas from the Observation Tower
  View of the Crystal Digging Areas from the Observation Tower
• The crystal became the State Crystal of Oklahoma in April 2005. Photo of Governor and the children responsible for the legislation.
  The crystal became the State Crystal of Oklahoma in April 2005. Photo of Governor and the children responsible for the legislation.

Chemical Weapons

In 2007, a Boy Scout digging for crystals uncovered a collection of 7.5in vials containing things such as mustard gas.[1] [2]

The 134 intact CAIS [3] vials were part of WWII 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.

The salt plains were used as a bombing and strafing range during WWII. There are no remnants of this use left on the plains.

External links

• Salt Plains NWR