Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge
Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge
McGregor, IA 52157
Phone:563-873-3423
Web: www.fws.gov/midwest/driftless
Established: 1989.
Location:Along Highway 18 between the towns of Marquette and McGregor, Iowa.
Activities:Educational programs (by prior arrangement).
Special Features:Refuge protects an unusual habitat called algific (cold air) talus (loose rock) slopes. On these slopes, constant cold air or cold groundwater exiting from a cliff or talus slope creates an cool microclimate, one that may be considerably different from areas only a few feet away. Refuge is home to nine endangered and threatened snail species and two threatened plant species, which generally are found only on algific talus slopes.
Habitats: 775 acres containing algific (cold air) talus (loose rocks) slopes on 7 separate tracts.
Access: Limited areas open for fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation, granted by special arrangement with refuge staff prior to visit.
Wild life: Endangered Iowa Pleistocene snail and eight other snails, fish, turtles, frogs, herons, wood ducks and water birds.
See other parks in Iowa.