U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Reelfoot and National Wildlife Refuges Introduction and History Unmatched anywhere in The lure and beauty of make it a captivating place, known the world, the National not only for its rich fish and wildlife resources, but also for its unique This blue goose, origin and natural history. Wildlife Refuge System designed by “Ding” Darling, During the winter of 1811, time is an extensive network has become a momentarily stopped in the central symbol of the valley as the earth of lands and waters Refuge System. suddenly began to shake and violently move about. The once peaceful woodlands rolled like ocean waves protected and managed and landslides covered many rivers and streams. A great depression was especially for wildlife formed in northwest and the waters of the Mississippi River and its habitat. Refuges filled the sunken area. Thus, Reelfoot stretch across the U.S. Lake, as presently known, from above the Arctic was formed as a result of one of the most violent Circle in Alaska to the earthquakes recorded in subtropical waters of North America. Numerous the Florida Keys and shocks were recorded from December, 1811 beyond to the Caribbean to February, 1812 and aftershocks and South Pacific. The were recorded

Dave Menke for several decades. The formation of Reelfoot Lake created a valuable wetland area which became a haven for many wildlife species, attracting System is managed by the hunters and outdoorsmen such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie. Reelfoot and Lake Isom National Service, which protects Wildlife Refuges Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge is located on the northern portion of and manages over 560 Reelfoot Lake, which lies within the northwest corner of Tennessee and refuges for wildlife and southwest corner of Kentucky. The Refuge was established in 1941 under for people to enjoy. the terms of a lease and cooperative cover photo: agreement with the State of Norm Nelson USFWS with managingthewaterlevels of vegetation inshallowwetlands,along croplands, andmanipulationofnative foodsthroughmanaged of waterfowl enhancement ofwetlands,production forest management,protectionand Refuge managementincludes birds. migratory andother habitat forwaterfowl common goal:toprovidehighquality flyway, work togethertoachievea other refugesalongtheMississippi Refuges (NWRs),alongwithmany similar. resources andmanagementarealso larger ReelfootRefuge.Itswildlife wetlands, andcroplandsresemblethe 1,846 acresofopenwater, forested of ReelfootLake.TheRefuge’s in 1938andliesthreemilessouth was establishedbyExecutiveOrder Lake IsomNationalWildlife Refuge to itspresent10,428acres. extended theRefugeintoKentucky Tennessee. Additional landpurchases these Refuges useto providefood Onemethod wintering waterfowl. for providing food andsanctuary birds withaspecific emphasison to providehabitatformigratory NWR andLakeIsom is purpose ofReelfoot The primary Reelfoot Lake. National Wildlife and LakeIsom Flyway. Reelfoot the Mississippi of for waterfowl wintering area point and a majorstopover as Refuges serve floodplain, these in itsformer and beinglocated Mississippi River proximity tothe Due tothe

USFWS natural foodsincludingsmartweeds impoundments fortheproductionof The Refugesalsomanagemoistsoil for winteringwaterfowl. flooded toprovidehighenergyfood inthe field andthen unharvested isleft corn, Refuges’ share,normally lands onacropsharebasis.The to plantagriculturalcropsonRefuge program whichallowslocalfarmers is throughacooperativefarming release program. Sincethen, local and result of asuccessful eaglehacking reestablished onReelfootLakeasa In 1988anesting populationbecame listing asanEndangered Species. in eaglepopulations,prompting its and 60’scausedanationwide decline of DDTcontaminationinthe 1950’s until 1963.Theenvironmental effects Eagles nestedregularlyin the area and otherwildlife. prey onwaterfowl are primarilyfisheaters,butalso Reelfoot Lake.Themajesticbirds bald eaglesspendtheirwinterat 100-200 of baldeagles.Normally for itslargewinteringpopulation Reelfoot Lakehaslongbeenknown Bald Eagles spring andsummerperiod. numbers atReelfootLakeduringthe a summerresident,nestsinlarge 150,000 inmidwinter. Thewoodduck, mallard populationcanpeakaround be seenasearlySeptember. The in October. Blue-winged tealcan and ring-neckedducksbeginarriving mallards, gadwall,Americanwidgeon, in thesoutheast.Ducks,primarily and productionareasforwaterfowl provide majorwintering,migrating, Lake The Refugesandsurrounding Waterfowl for thespringreproductionprocess. balanced nutritionaldietnecessary which areimportantforprovidinga growth ofnaturalseedbearingplants these impoundmentsstimulatesthe manipulation ofwaterlevelswithin and wildmillet.Theseasonal 94 1282 REELFOOT & ISOM TENNESSEE 311 National Wildlife Refuges KENTUCKY LONG TENNESSEE Illinois Central System 0 Miles 1 POINT ı ı ı UNIT 0 Kilo 1 ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı REELFOOT ı National Wildlife Refuge N ı ı ı ı Walnut ı ı er Log ı pp in 157 ı ı U as ı 78 B ı lue ı B ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı To Union City ı ı ı GRASSY ISLAND ı ı UNIT ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı ı Refuge Boundary ı ı

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ı ı ı Backyard/Watchable ı Wildlife Habitat Showcase Seasonally Closed Area All Public Access prohibited November 15–March 15 Waters Closed To Public Access LAKE ISOM All Public Access prohibited National Wildlife Refuge November 15–January 31 Waters Closed to Public Access All Public Access prohibited November 15–March 15 USFWS Lake Isom NWR. at horsepower or lessarepermitted the Refuge.Only boatmotorswith10 ramps areavailable onoradjacentto Several publicandcommercial boat the bestwaytoexperience the Refuge. Boating onRefugewatersis probably Boat Access wildlife recreationalpursuits. Refuge roadsareseasonallyopenfor at theendofdrive.Additional awaitsvisitors platform observation daylight hours.Aboardwalkwithan The driveisopenyear-roundduring available ontheGrassyIslandUnit. A self-guided wildlifedriveis Grassy IslandAutoTour federal holidays. open dailyfrom8am–4pm,exceptfor events intheReelfootareaandis describing refugewildlifeandhistoric contains anumberofdisplays The ReelfootNWRVisitor Center Visitor Center/Office portions oftheRefuge. Refuge roadsprovideaccesstoupland are availableforlakeaccessand specific seasons.Publicboatlaunches within Hunting isalsopermitted from February 1-November14. Island, whichareopentothepublic exception ofthewatersGrassy withthe and wildlifeobservation, March 16-November14forfishing NWRs areopentothepublicfrom All ofReelfootandLakeIsom for thevisitingpublic. recreation opportunities educational, andwildlife provide interpretive, Lake IsomNWRs Reelfoot and Public Use 2007. eagle wasdelistedin stabilized, andthebald have increasedor national populations

USFWS USFWS further information. Public UseRegulationsbrochurefor a seasonalbasis.ConsulttheRefuges’ on Hunting andfishingarepermitted Hunting andFishing are available. mammals, amphibians,andreptiles access, andchecklistsforbirds, Brochures describingpublicuse, Wildlife Observation of theBackyard Habitat Showcase, for thedisabled, asarethemaintrail The Visitor Centerisfullyaccessible Accessibility for theDisabled trail questions. water levelinformation the ReelfootNWR Visitor Centerfor during theopenseason.Please contact canoe trailsmaynotbefullyaccessible 14. Duetowaterlevelfluctuations,some unit, areopenfromMarch16-November which arelocatedatLongPointRefuge Pen Trailand West House Trail,Boat February 1-November14. The Goose on theGrassyIsland Refuge unit, is open The GloryHole Trail, whichislocated Canoe/Kayak Trails at theVisitor Center. The BackyardHabitatTrail islocated the parkingarea. the Auto Tour forashorttripbackto gravel/boardwalk semicircleexitson point oftheAuto Tour. Thehalf-mile located atapproximatelythehalfway The GrassyIslandhikingtrailis Hiking Trails year-round. NWR isalsoavailabletothepublic toweratLakeIsom An observation entrance totheLongPoint Unit. Auto Tour andtheotherinmain NWR: oneontheGrassyIsland to thepublicyear-roundatReelfoot Two towersareavailable observation TowersObservation

and othercanoe David Haggard Gerald A. Gray Paul Hamilton Songbirds areabundant,especially Bluegill fishingisatitspeak. May Crappie fishingisstillgoingstrong. great timeforcanoeingandkayaking. wetlands.Thisisa and temporary be seeninRefugemoistsoilunits blooming. Shorebirdsandduckscan this month.Springwildflowersare The springturkeyhuntisconducted April crappie fishing. migration. Thisisagoodmonthfor onnorthward winged tealarrive shovelersandblue- of northern begin nestingactivity. Largenumbers and Resident woodducksreturn to sportfishingonthesixteenth. Long Point andLakeIsomopen migration. Nestingospreyreturn. Bald eaglesbeginnorthward March offered. on thefirst.Guidedeagletoursare Grassy Islandunitisopenforfishing crappie fishingisgoingstrong. the ReelfootLakearea.Coldweather Bald eaglepopulationisatitspeakin February offered. Guidedeagletoursare be observed. 150,000 ducksand50,000geesecan Waterfowl concentrationsofupto January Calendar ofWildlife Events Grassy IslandAuto Tour. the boardwalkatendof the GrassyIslandhikingtrail,and observed fishing in shallow water.observed month. Heronsandegrets canbe Deer fawns becomevisible this June andlateevening. early morning turkey canbeeasilyviewed inthe frog listening.Whitetaildeer andwild Thisisagreatmonthfor observed. warblers. Mississippikites can be

David Haggard Jon R. Nickles USFWS month. are offeredweeklythroughoutthe Environmental educationprograms July weekly throughoutthemonth. education programsareoffered Visitor Centerponds.Environmental youth fishingrodeoisheldatthe vegetation areblooming.Annual Emergent andfloatingaquatic tours begin. ducks, geeseandeagles.Guidedeagle Excellent opportunitiestoobserve December onthefifteenth. to publicentry wildlife. Managementunitsareclosed for excellentopportunitiestoview trails, andviewingtowersareallopen Grassy IslandAuto Tour, hiking hunt isconductedthismonth.The The ReelfootNWRquotadeergun November seasons areopen. deer raccoon,andarchery Squirrel, of NationalWildlife RefugeWeek. held attheLongPoint unitinhonor Migration Celebrationhayrideis American widgeonbeginarriving. Large numbersofgadwalland Good hikingandcanoeingweather. October bass begins. Fall fishingfor“stripes,”crappie,and September fourth Saturdayofthemonth. seasonopensonthe Refuge squirrel August Reelfoot and Lake Isom National Wildlife Refuges 4343 Highway 157 Union City, TN 38261 731/538 2481

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov/reelfoot

January 2014