Lake Contrary is in the northern part of the Audubon Iaton/Weston River Corridor Important Bird Area. The Important Bird Areas Program (IBA) is an effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. This is an oxbow abandoned channel of the Missouri River. The site is utilized by loons and grebes, cormorants, wading birds, swans and geese, diving and dabbling ducks, gulls and terns, and a variety of shorebirds during migration and nesting season. When the lake is high, several uncommon marsh birds may be found at the west end of the lake. 

Gasper Landing is small public fishing access with 3 jetties cooperatively provided by Buchanan County, the Lake Contrary Development Association, and the Missouri Department of Conservation. It is on the left side of SW Lake Front Lane West, 1.3 miles past the beach area. When the lake level is relatively high, Southwest Nelson Road/SW 46th Road, a graveled county road to the left 0.6 miles past Gasper Landing, offers views of wetlands at the west end of Lake Contrary.