Fish and Wildlife Service, Montana.
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of four satellite, or un-manned refuges, administered by the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, Wetland Management District program. The general topography is rolling, mixed-grass prairie with the major drainage running in an easterly direction. The lake, enhanced by an earthen dam, creates a shallow 492 acre seasonal wetland. In most years the lake goes dry by late summer, but during the spring and after spring run-off, the lake attracts thousands of migratory birds. The Hewitt Lake NWR has one of two know black-tailed prairie dog towns on Service lands in the Bowdoin Wetland Management District. Burrowing owls and mountain plovers have been known to nest within the prairie dog town. The uplands are also used by upland-nesting birds such as long-billed curlew, Sprague’s pipit, Baird’s sparrow, and waterfowl. The mudflats of the lake are heavily used by migrating shorebirds. During the spring and summer months the shoreline is used by nesting Wilson's phalarope, Black-necked stilt, and American Avocet.
Hewitt Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in north central Montana, 25 miles northeast of the town of Malta via U.S. Highway 2 and about 1.5 miles northwest of Nelson Reservoir. Easiest route, travel on U.S. Highway 2 approximately 17 miles east of Malta to the intersection of US Hwy 2 and Hwy 243. Travel north on Hwy 243 for approximately 5 miles making a left on Hewitt Lake road. Hewitt Lake road leads directly to the Refuge ( 3 miles).