| The Bill Williams River
was named to honor Bill Williams, a mountain man, missionary, and
trapper who traveled much of western Arizona in the early 1800's.
The town of Williams, Arizona, was also named for him.
Prior to 1935 when the Hoover Dam was
built, the lower Colorado River area held thick forests of native
cottonwood and willow trees, along with cattail-filled marshes and
other riparian environments. Once the dam was completed, along with
twenty other smaller dams, the water backed up into a series of
lakes and the annual flood cycle was changed. Much of the
trees in the area were either drowned or died from lack of water,
destroying the homes of many birds, fish, and other animals.
The Bill Williams River National
Wildlife Refuge was established to protect and restore one of the
last stands of natural cottonwood-willow forest along the lower
Colorado River and provide a habitat for resident and migratory
wildlife. Today, the refuge is a rare ecosystem that is a breeding
grounds for several endangered species of birds and fish, as well as
supporting populations of cottontail rabbits, javelina, deer,
coyotes, bobcats, cougars, snakes, rodents, and common native birds
and fish.
Bill Williams River National Wildlife
Refuge is located halfway between Parker and Lake Havasu City, east
of Parker Dam on the Colorado River. Take AZ-95 and turn east on the
road between mileposts 160 and 161. From there, the riparian
area long Bill Williams River can be seen for about 3 miles.
Much of the cattail marshes can be seen from several turnouts off
AZ-95. Visitors are welcome to explore the refuge on foot, and there
is a short, informative nature trail at the refuge headquarters.
All vehicles, including
bicycles, horses, mules, and motorcycles are confined to the county
road right-of-way. Camping, fires, firearms, trapping, and
off-road vehicle operation is prohibited. Hunting, fishing,
and boating are allowed according to state and federal regulations.
For more information,
contact:
US FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE
60911 Highway 95
Parker, Arizona 85344
928-667-4144
|
