Imperial National Wildlife Refuge

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona, USA – 2017. The Imperial National Wildlife Refuge protects wildlife habitat along 30 miles of the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, including the last un-channelized section before the river enters Mexico. The backwaters and marshes in the reserve were created as a result of the Imperial Dam which was built on the Colorado River just north of Yuma in 1938. The refuge is on both the California and Arizona shores of the river and includes upland desert habitat in addition to the marshes, and Colorado River backwaters.

Green trees in the middle of the desert, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Dry marsh grasses reflecting the sunlight, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Oasis and desert, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Gray heron, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Road Runner, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Road Runner, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Wild flowers in the desert, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Wild flowers in the desert, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Painted Desert Trail, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

New buds on a Prickly Pear Cactus, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

A hoodoo created by water erosion, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Painted Desert Trail, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

A Small side-blotched lizard sunning itself, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Painted Desert Trail, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Painted Desert Trail, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Painted Desert Trail, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona

Colorado River, Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, Arizona