.
Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the first national wildlife refuge in Kansas, was established in 1954 as an overlay project on a Bureau of Reclamation irrigation and flood control reservoir. Kirwin Dam and Reservoir are features of the Kirwin Unit, P-SMBP. Reclamation owns the land and controls reservoir water levels while the Refuge staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service manages all other activities on the land and water. The reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the Solomon River and Bow Creek. Both are intermittent streams, which means they may dry up in periods of low precipitation. The reservoir and refuge are open 24 hours. Good access roads. Available species of fish include crappie, walleye, wipers, largemouth and smallmouth bass, channel and flathead catfish, and freshwater drum. Fishing is year round. Current Reservoir Level.
Effective immediately, Reclamation will require all boats launching at Lake Berryessa to participate in a seal program to prevent the spread of invasive mussels. All vessels wishing to launch at Lake Berryessa will be inspected. A red quarantine seal will be applied for 30 days during, which the vessel will not be permitted to launch. Vessels that have finished the 30-day quarantine may return to the lake and have the seal removed by authorized staff and will be allowed to launch. For more information on this updated protocol, please view the press release here: https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/news-release/5031.
Site is 4 miles west and 1 mile south of Kirwin, KS or 11 miles southeast of Phillipsburg, Kansas. Nearest highway is State Highway 9.