Great River National Wildlife Refuge

Great River National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Map of the United States
Location	Adams County, Pike County, Illinois, Clark County, Lewis County, Missouri, United States
Nearest city	Louisiana, Missouri
Coordinates	39°26′23″N 90°58′38″W / 39.4397°N 90.9773°W / 39.4397; -90.9773Coordinates: 39°26′23″N 90°58′38″W / 39.4397°N 90.9773°W / 39.4397; -90.9773
Area	11,600 acres (47 km2)
Established	1958
Governing body	U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website	Great River National Wildlife Refuge

The Great River National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 11,600 acres (47 km²) along 120 miles (190 km) of the Mississippi River, stretching north of St. Louis, Missouri. Three separate units are located in the floodplain, on both the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river.

In 1998, the Great River Refuge was designated as a globally Important Bird Area, due to its value to shorebirds, songbirds, and waterfowl. The refuge's proximity to St. Louis provides excellent educational opportunities to a large population.

The Clarence Cannon National Wildlife Refuge is also under the administration of the Great River Refuge. Great River Refuge, in turn, was formerly part of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which also included: Port Louisa, Two Rivers, and Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuges.

Long Island Division, near Quincy, Illinois, was part of the original Mark Twain Refuge when it was established in 1958 under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.

The division is General Plan Land owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under a cooperative agreement signed in 1963. In 1986, another cooperative agreement was signed with the Corps of Engineers adding the 1,450-acre (5.9 km²) Bear Creek Unit to the division.