Limited-interest national wildlife refuges, also known as easement refuges, are different from other national wildlife refuges. Established in the 1930s and 1940s, they were a response to declining waterfowl populations and, surprisingly, the Great Depression. During a time that lacked stability in all aspects of daily life, the limited-interest refuges, especially throughout the Central Flyway, were an answer to prayers. In exchange for jobs in their communities and water conservation measures, landowners signed up for easements on their lands. The land remains in private or state ownership, serving as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife and habitat conservation. North Dakota has 41 limited-interest national wildlife refuges, including right here at Lake Ardoch.

Located in Walsh County, the Ardoch National Wildlife Refuge is managed under the Devils Lake Wetland Management District. It was created in 1939 and originally consisted of nearly 3,000 acres of land around the reservoir, which provided essential homes for thousands of species, including migrating waterfowls, shorebirds, grassland nesting birds, and many others. The Lake Ardoch National Wildlife Refuge invites visitors to experience the wonder of the great outdoors through activities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, and photography.

Today, the refuge continues to protect both wildlife and habitat, with the land remaining privately owned, meaning the landowners, not the US Fish and Wildlife Service, control access to the land.