Bitter Lake, S.D.
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Bitter Lake is a natural lake located south of Waubay, South Dakota in NE South Dakota. Prior to the 1990s Bitter Lake was a 3,000-acre alkaline slough with approximately 3 ft maximum depth. Above-average precipitation during the 1990s resulted in the chain of lakes leading into Bitter Lake filling and subsequently overflowing into Bitter Lake.
Bitter Lake has tripled in size and now covers almost 10,000 acres. In addition, the depth of Bitter Lake has increased significantly and now depths of 24 feet are common. Currently, Bitter Lake is primarily managed as a walleye and yellow perch fishery.
Chase Lake, N.D.
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Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, lying 15 miles northwest of Medina in North Dakota's famous prairie pothole country, was established as one of the country's first wildlife refuges in 1908 by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt
The refuge was established primarily to protect the native American White Pelican, which was threatened by the uncontrolled shooting commonly practiced at the time.
The Refuge is one of two wilderness refuges in North Dakota, and designated as one of America's 500 Most Important Bird Areas by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC).