Good for shorebirds and waders.

Important Bird Area.
An unofficial, locally-named area in the extreme southeast corner of Polk Co. (within the Red Rock Area). In town of Runnells, Hwy. 316 has a right-angle corner at Brown St. (N-S) and McKinney St. (E-W). Go south on Brown one block to Hancock, at the Post Office. Turn right (west) on Hancock about two blocks, until you can follow a gravel road (SE Vandalia Dr.) curving south over the R.R. tracks. When the gravel road soon turns right (west), continue straight on the dirt road into the public hunting area.

Subject to flooding.

The entire area is important as a resting area for large concentrations of migrating waterfowl, gulls, and shorebirds. The area is also critical as a wintering area for large numbers of Bald Eagles. Nesting birds include Bobolink, Cerulean Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Wood Thrush, and in some years Kentucky Warbler.

The Red Rock Dam is about five miles southwest of Pella; the refuge area extends northwest beyond Runnells in Polk County to near Hartford in Warren County.