Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a 2,498 acre refuge, was established in 1935 to protect critical nesting and migrating habitat for the nation's waterfowl. The James River, which flows through the refuge, was dammed by the Civilian Conservation in the late 1930's to create two lakes, the 6100 acre Sand Lake and the 5300 acre Mud Lake. Each year, thousands of waterfowl and other birds use Sand Lake as a stop over during migration. Many geese, ducks, and songbirds stay there throughout the summer to nest and raise young. The four distinct habitats on the refuge, wetlands, woodlands, cropland and grassland, provide excellent habitat for many other animals as well. White-tailed deer, ring-necked pheasants, hawks, muskrats, painted turtles, and many other animals live at Sand Lake Refuge.