Location
The refuge is located on the border of Lower Silesia voivodeship and Lubuskie voivodeship. The area lies within Szpotawa Plain, in the valley of Szpotawa river, which is a tributary of the river Bobr.

Ecosystem 
Major part of the area is covered by fish-ponds for carps. They are grouped into two complexes of 769 and 179 ha. Ponds are fed by waters of Szpotawa river. Vegetation of the area is extremely varied. The ponds are surrounded by a narrow belt of rushes, which covers ca 6% of the area of ponds. Inland marshes constitute as much as 63 % of the refuge's area. Dry areas are covered by broad-leaved forest.

The greatest treasure of Stawy Przemkowskie are birds. Naturalist estimate that there can be observed over 100 bird species, and as many as 40 of them breed in the area.

At least 17 bird species identified within Stawy Przemkowskie area are listed in the I Annex to the Bird Directive. The most numerous being Bean Goose - between 1995 and 2000 ornithologists observed over 8000 specimens of this bird.

Another species worth mentioning is the Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), which is threatened by extinction worldwide. It is a medium-sized diving duck, which breeding habitat is marshes and lakes with a metre or more water depth. Irregularly one can meet a pair of these birds nesting in the refuge.

In the breeding period at least 1 % of Polish population of whooper swan and greylag goose nests here. More numerous are mute swans, great bitterns, tufted ducks, pochards and water rails.

Other bird species observed in Stawy Przemkowskie area include: little bittern, black stork, white stork, red kite, black kite, crane, little crake, marsh harrier and kingfisher.

In migration period Stawy Przemkowskie are visited by 1 % of bean goose population, as well as numerous pochards and shovelers. This also is the time when white egret, honey buzzard and kingfisher come to the ponds.

Threats
Major threat to the area is draining of the ponds. In order to preserve the unique values of the area, the traditional way of exploiting the ponds should be sustained.

Nature Protection
The area is covered by following forms of nature conservation: Nature Reserve Stawy Przemkowskie (1046,3 ha), Przemkowski Landscape Park (22338,0 ha).