[1] The refuge is part of a national system of fee ownership lands purchased from willing sellers, mostly private property owners.

The refuge encompasses the Bear River and its delta where it flows into the northern part of the Great Salt Lake in eastern Box Elder County.

The refuge hosts millions of migratory birds each year including species such as bald eagle and tundra swan.

There is a one-way 12 mile auto route through the Refuge, with an audio tour and map available for download through the official website.

Starting in 1983, rising floodwaters from the Great Salt Lake severely impacted the refuge.