The complex, located in Bureau County and Putnam County on the "Great Bend" of the Illinois River in north central Illinois, is actually two different facilities, the Lake Depue FWA on the northern banks of the river and the Donnelly Wildlife Management Area on the southern banks of the river. The complex is on an important North American waterfowl migration corridor with much of its 3,600 acres managed for waterfowl feeding, nesting, resting, harvesting, and viewing.