Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge near Churchs Ferry, North Dakota, is a protected wildlife area within watersheds covering about 1,000 square miles. These watersheds supply ample water, although local streams are intermittent and can bring spring and post-storm flooding. The refuge began in 1935 as an easement refuge, with the land still privately owned and hunting prohibited. In 1972, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service purchased 8,600 acres from the original easement refuge. It now manages 12,179 acres at Lake Alice, reflecting the refuge’s growth from protected private land to a larger publicly managed conservation area.