Honey Lake State Wildlife Area (Dakin Unit)

 wetland, nature conservation park / area, wildlife protection/conservation

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Honey Lake Wildlife Area is approximately 7,600 acres of sagebrush habitat surrounding a shallow lake in the Great Basin Desert. Alkali-tolerant vegetation lines the banks. This wetland supports many migratory birds including tundra swans. There are excellent opportunities to see hundreds of migratory and nesting waterfowl, birds of prey, and passerines, sandhill cranes, beavers, pronghorn antelope, and deer. The area includes the Dakin and Fleming Units.

The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1953. Over the past hundred years, the Honey Lake Valley has been severely impacted by agriculture. Before the Department’s acquisition of the land, the ranches were devoted to the production of grain, alfalfa, meadow hay and livestock. The rangelands, wetlands and harvested fields were used for livestock grazing. Prior to settlement, Native Americans of the Northern Paiute group used the valley extensively.