Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lies in the broad, flat Neosho River Valley, a native tallgrass prairie region with natural scenic beauty. The Refuge was established in 1966 as part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers John Redmond Reservoir flood control project. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages 18,463 acres upstream of the reservoir, most of which is in the floodplain of the Neosho River. Refuge habitats are managed to provide food and habitat for migratory birds and resident wildlife.