At the time the refuge was established, the RMA consisted of more than of grassland dotted with small manmade lakes and ponds. Not all of this land was set aside for the refuge, however. Section 2(c)(2) of the enabling legislation set aside for use as the South Adams County Water Treatment Plant and for a United States Postal Service facility. Section 5(a)(1) of the act designated another for public sale. The former Shell Oil Company land also proved to be a problem, as it was somewhat geographically isolated from the rest of the refuge and not likely to be used by wildlife as habitat. Subsequently, about of the Shell Oil site was sold to Commerce City in 2010. Of the remaining of the Shell site, are (as of 2013) being used for a water treatment facility and another for domestic livestock grazing. The USFWS anticipates selling these by 2023. These land set-asides, sales, and transfers left the refuge with of land.