It encompasses 37,632 acres at the south end of Ruby Valley. Today 12,000 acres of marsh remain on the refuge. Just north of the refuge, a 15,000 acre seasonal wetland is now referred to as Franklin Lake. The refuge, at an elevation of 6,000 feet, consists of an extensive bulrush marsh interspersed with pockets of open water. Fish are abundant.
Islands scattered throughout provide good nesting habitat for many bird species.
Over 200 springs flow into the marsh along its west border creating riparian habitat which is used by many songbirds, snipe, rail and small mammals. They also provide a water source for larger mammals. With slight increases in elevation, wet meadows gradate into grasslands and sagebrush-rabbitbrush habitat. Pinon Pines and juniper cover the slopes of the Ruby Mountains that rise to 11,000 feet along the west side of the refuge. Canyons provide habitat for a variety of wildife.