Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area Renovation and Enhancement

Abstract

Consisting of 8,036 hectares (19,857 acres), the Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (CHBW) is located in the lowest portion of the Cheyenne Bottoms, an elliptical-shaped natural lowland of approximately 16,600 hectares (41,000 acres). The contributing natural drainage area is 658 square kilometers (254 square miles). Located in central Kansas in Barton County, the CHBW is north of the City of Great Bend. Owned and operated by the State of Kansas, the Wildlife Area is managed and operated by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP). Known as the most important ecosystem in Kansas and recognized as a wetland of international importance, the CHBW is also considered a critical migration stopover site for shorebirds in North America. Studies have estimated that the CHBW attracts almost half of the entire northward migrating populations of North American shorebirds and more than 90% of at least five species of birds. A federally designated critical habitat for the whooping crane, other endangered species such as the least tern, piping plover, peregrine falcon and bald eagle have been sighted in the CHBW. Waterfowl populations fluctuate from year to year depending upon water availability, but typically range into hundreds of thousands for some species.