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SLATE CREEK WETLANDS
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One of the marshes at Slate Creek
- All photos by Jim Mason |
Slate Creek is only for the strong-willed! This wetland cannot be
entered by automobile road, and visitors should be prepared for some hiking. The property
provides an interesting mix of habitats - woodland, cropland, and native prairie, as well
as the wetlands. |
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The flat terrain makes the shallow pools and mudflats difficult to
see from the parking areas. During dry periods, much of the area may be completely
dry. The area is the permanent home of white-tailed deer, coyotes, raccoons, and muskrats. |
An observation tower is located
near parking area #3.
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The best time for birding is probably in spring and fall when the
waterfowl and shorebirds are migrating. Large numbers of white-rumped and Baird's
sandpipers visit in spring. Wilson's phalaropes, greater and lesser yellowlegs,
long-billed dowitchers, and killdeers are also found. Most of the puddle ducks found in
Kansas feed here, and great blue herons commonly feed in the shallows. LeConte's sparrows
occur regularly.
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A sizeable upland prairie
is in the southwest part of the area.
Park at lot #2 for access to this habitat and a panoramic view of the valley.
Be looking here for dickcissels, eastern kingbirds and grasshopper sparrows. |
 | No facilities.
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Camping not allowed.
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 No
developed trails.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Sumner County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
For more Wildlife Watching sites in the Flint
Hills, click here
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Directions: From
U.S. 160 in Oxford (30 miles south of Wichita), go 7 miles south on Summer Street. Turn
west on 80th Street at the Slate Valley Baptist Church, and travel another 1.6 miles to a
parking area on the north side of the road (#1 on the map). Some of the wetland area lies
northwest of this parking lot. The three other parking areas can be reached by driving the
perimeter of the property.
For a Google Map of this site,
click here. |
Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Slate Creek
Wetland is the Kansas
Department of Wildlife, Parks &
Tourism. Contact them at (316)
683-8069 if you have specific questions about use or management of the
site.
You may download the KDWPT brochure for Slate Creek
Wetlands from
their web site.
947 acres
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Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Click here for a brochure! |
The Natural
Kansas web site
© 2011
by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
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