The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (ORINWR) is a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in non-contiguous sites consisting of islands along 362 miles (583 km)[2] of the Ohio River, primarily (85% of acreage)[3] in the U.S. state of West Virginia.
| Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
 Aerial view of one islands of the refuge | |
  Map of the United States  Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (West Virginia) | |
| Location | Ohio River, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, United States |
| Nearest city | Williamstown, West Virginia |
| Coordinates | 39°23′28″N 81°25′15″W / 39.39117°N 81.420708°W[1] |
| Area | 3,354 acres (13.57 km2) |
| Established | 1990 |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge |
There are also two islands that are located upstream in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and a pair that are located downstream in Lewis County, Kentucky.[4]
Looking downstream, the refuge is currently located in parts of these counties: Beaver, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Tyler, Pleasants, Wood, Jackson, Mason, and Lewis. All counties are part of West Virginia, with the Pennsylvania and Kentucky exceptions that are mentioned above.
History
editThe ORINWR was established in 1990 and consists of 3,354 acres (13.57 km2) of land and underwater habitat on twenty-two islands and four mainland properties.
The refuge headquarters with visitor center is located in Williamstown, West Virginia.
Islands
edit
The following islands in the Ohio River are part of the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. All are located in West Virginia unless indicated otherwise.
- Phillis Island (Pennsylvania)
- Georgetown Island (Pennsylvania)
- Wheeling Island – part
- Captina Island
- Fish Creek Island
- Paden Island
- Williamson Island
- Witten Towhead
- Crab Island
- Wells Island
- Mill Creek Island
- Grandview Island
- Grape Island
- Middle Island
- Broadback Island
- Buckley Island
- Muskingum Island
- Neal Island – part
- Buffington Island
- Letart Island
- Manchester 1 Island (Kentucky)
- Manchester 2 Island (Kentucky) - part
References
edit
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
External links
edit- Official website
- The short film Ohio River National Wildlife Refuge (2009) is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.