Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge

Creedman Coulee National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area in Montana combining a reservoir, natural grassland, and farming areas across several thousand acres. Most of the land is privately owned, with only a small federal portion managed directly as refuge territory.

Established in 1941, this refuge came from programs during the Great Depression aimed at building water storage and providing work for local communities. It represented part of a broader effort to manage water resources across the Northern Plains region.

The refuge shows how conservation works through partnerships, where federal and private landowners work together to manage the land for both wildlife and farming.

Access requires permission from nearby private landowners since most of the refuge is on private property with only a small federal section. Visitors should arrange entry in advance and be aware of the boundary lines between public and private land.

The reservoir has become a nesting site where great blue herons and double-crested cormorants gather in colonies among mature trees. These nesting colonies make the reservoir a critical breeding area for waterbirds in the region.