The wildlife management area incorporates 1,830 acres (7.41 km2) of artificially restored marsh and wetlands just west of Houghton Lake.

The wildlife management area is controlled and maintained by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

[1] The Houghton Lake Flats Flooding State Wildlife Management Area is bisected north–south by U.S. Route 127.

The Houghton Lake Flats Observation Deck was constructed in 1998 along Old U.S. Highway 27 just south of Yeager Road (44°21′47.7″N 84°48′00.6″W / 44.363250°N 84.800167°W / 44.363250; -84.800167).

Some common bird species seen in the marshland include varieties of dabbling ducks, ospreys, great blue herons, egrets, and bald eagles.