Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in southwestern Wyoming. The name Seedskadee originated from the Shoshone Indian word "Sisk-a-dee-agie" meaning "river of the prairie hen." The 26,400-acre Refuge protects a mosaic of riparian, wetland, and upland shrub habitats along 36 miles of the Green River. The river is an oasis that bisects the vast high desert sagebrush plains of southwest Wyoming. Seedskadee NWR was established in 1965 as mitigation for the loss of habitat when Flaming Gorge and Fontenelle dams were constructed. The riparian corridor is an important migration route and nesting area for a wide variety of migratory waterfowl and passerine bird species. Refuge lands are rich in historic and cultural resources because the area was used by nomadic Indian tribes, fur trappers, and early pioneers. Today, approximately 10,000 people visit the Refuge annually, and more than 20 educational and civic organizations participate in environmental education or volunteer programs.