U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge

Lou Kellenberger Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge encompasses 11,556 acres of bottomland hardwood forests, farmland, moist soils, and oxbow lakes that stretch along the scenic Hatchie in West . Established in 1964, the Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an important resting and feeding area for wintering waterfowl and other migratory birds. The Refuge also protects a unique remnant bottomland hardwood ecosystem that once dominated the area. In Years Past When the first settlers arrived in the River Delta, millions of acres of swamp habitat, dominated by This blue goose, water-tolerant oaks, stretched before designed by J.N. them. This habitat provided settlers Ding Darling, with many of the necessities to live. has become a Generations have lived to the rhythm symbol of the of the river—transporting, logging, National Wildlife farming, hunting, and fishing. Today, Refuge System. over 95% of this wetland habitat has been cleared for agriculture and other purposes. Approximately one million acres of good quality swamp now remain for the fish, wildlife, and people that are dependent on this type of habitat.

Over 9,400 acres

Lou Kellenberger of bottomland forest remain at Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and still function as a natural forested woodland, much as they did during Pioneer times. The Hatchie River is the only major stream in western Tennessee that has never been impounded, channelized, or otherwise modified by human activity to any major degree. The Refuge provides an excellent example of the 25 million acres of bottomland hardwood forest that once dominated the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Bottomland Hardwood Forests Bottomland hardwood forests make up roughly 80% of the wildlife habitat on Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge. These nutrient-rich and diverse ecosystems support a vast array of wildlife species. Seasonal floodwaters bring large amounts of sediments and nutrients that settle into the ground. When the floodwaters recede, the leaf litter decays, releasing nutrients and making these nutrients available to other plants. The vegetation in these USFWS USFWS USFWS unique place. that makesHatchieRefugesucha wildlife isoneofthemanyfeatures ecosystem withitsabundantfishand seasonally flooded,lowlandforest of ourgreatnaturalheritage.This people toappreciateandenjoyapart andaplacefor migrating waterfowl forests provideawinterhomefor many speciesofanimals.These hardwood forestsareabletosupport with itsnaturalcover, bottomland plants,along flowering andfruiting Due tothevarietyandabundanceof immense amountsoftimber. improve waterquality, andproduces flood waters,filterssedimentto Today theforeststillslowsravaging type ofseasonalfloodingovertime. bottomland also be heardformiles thistimeof spotted baskinginthe sun.Frogs can variety ofsnakes andturtlescanbe are moreactive andeasilyviewed.A many ofourcoldbloodedspecies As thedaysgetlongerand hotter, Summer shore. be seenfeedingoninsectsalong the vivid colors.Broodsofwoodduckscan buntings paintthewoodswiththeir red-headed woodpeckers,andindigo goldfinches, greenherons,bluejays, crowned kinglets,yellowwarblers, color.every Scarlettanagers,ruby- withsongbirds of The woodsswarm Spring seems tobringsomethingnewview. can beseenyearround.Eachseason tailed deer, whichthriveinthearea, owls,wildturkeys,andwhite- barred Bald eagles,red-shoulderedhawks, amphibians, fish,andinvertebrates. an amazingassortmentofreptiles, birds, 50speciesofmammals,and Refuge supportsover200speciesof The habitatdiversityofHatchie Wildlife forests has adapted to this US Forest Service Brownsville EXIT 56 Jackson 3 miles 24 miles Refuge headquarters Sugar Hatchie Bullpen Refuge boundary Creek River Lake Paved road Boat ramps Road 40 Windrow Unpaved road Closed to all public access November 15-March 15 Bullpen 76 Road Lake TVA transmission line Hart Hatchie ANR pipeline Swan Lake Windrow Lakes Bend Swan Road Field Road Lake

Borrow Bear Creek Poplar Pit Lake Drainage Powell Creek Canal Powell Hatchie Road Lakes N McCool Cutoff River 0 Miles 1 Lakes Lake 0 Kilos 1 Adams Lake Oneal Woodie Kelso Lake Road Woodie Tanner Lake Adams Lake Kelso Popular Lake EXIT 52 Creek Duck Trap Road Memphis Quarter 41 miles Koko Road Quail 179 Hollow Big Workshop Little Bear Lake Lake Eddy Creek Hillville NativeGoose Carney Loop Road Lake Big Eddy Road Prairie Road Road Richland

Thomas Thomas Powell Road Powell Canal Creek

Hillville Road

year. A few frogs you may recognize would be the bullfrog which has a low baritone jug-a-rum, cricket frogs which sound like two marbles clicking together, and chorus frogs which sound like your thumb running

USFWS along the edge of a comb.

Fall Waterfowl start arriving at the refuge. The squirrels, beavers, and variety of other mammals are almost finished preparing for the cold winter. While some animals may be getting ready to hide out for the winter, others can be spotted easily as the leaves start to fall from the trees. Creek Sugar Lake Swan Creek Poplar Memphis Road Swan Lake 41 miles River Hatchie Bullpen Lake EXIT 52 Lake Adams Tanner Lake Adams Lakes McCool Pit Lake Borrow Windrow Road Lake Bullpen Koko Field Lake Oneal Brownsville 40 179 3 miles Canal Drainage Bear Creek 76 Lakes Hart Popular EXIT 56 Creek Road Windrow Road Bend Hatchie Road Powell Jackson 24 miles Road Carney Creek Bear ANR pipeline TVA transmissionline Unpaved road Paved road Refuge boundary Road Hillville USFWS Road Quarter Lakes Powell Loop Road Hillville Cutoff Lake Workshop

Thomas Hollow Woodie Quail Powell Road Lake Road Prairie Native Lake Closed toallpublicaccessNovember15-March15 Boat ramps Refuge headquarters River Hatchie which allows local farmers toplant which allows local farmers program a cooperative farming uses toprovide foodisthrough One methodtheRefuge waterfowl. forwintering food andsanctuary with aspecificemphasison providing birds provide habitatformigratory purposeisto The Refuge’sprimary Managing forWildlife months. to theRefugeduringwinter Lake whileospreysarerarevisitors common wintervisitorsaroundOneal the winterseason.Baldeaglesare home for Refuge theirtemporary geese callHatchieNationalWildlife resting areas.Thousandsofducksand the Refuge’sextensivefeedingand areattracted to and otherwaterfowl Mallards, blackducks,blue-wingteal, Winter Goose Lake Road Woodie Kelso Kelso Lake Lake Little Duck TrapRoad Canal Creek Road Big Eddy Richland Eddy Big 0 0 Miles N Kilos 1 1 C ree k Oneal Lake Waterfowl Wildlife Drive Impoundment

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Entry 0 Road Oneal Lake Tenn Hwy 76

agricultural crops on Refuge lands on a crop share basis. The Refuge’s share, normally corn, milo, or millet is left unharvested in the field and then flooded to provide optimum feeding conditions for wintering waterfowl.

The Refuge also manages moist soil impoundments for the production of natural foods including smartweeds and wild millet. The seasonal manipulation of water levels within these impoundments stimulates the growth of natural seed bearing plants which are important for providing a balanced nutritional diet necessary for the spring reproduction process. An added benefit associated with these moist soil impoundments is their role in the production of tiny

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Impoundment Waterfowl Impoundment Waterfowl Lookout Tower Visitor Center Parking Legend N Scale

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USFWS USFWS USFWS USFWS and fishinginformation. fishing leafletforadditional hunting a copyoftheRefugehunting and the leafletmap.Makesure youobtain Lake andafewotherwaters notedon waters year-round,exceptfor Oneal fishing isallowedonallRefuge within establishedseasons.Sport birds small game,andmigratory forbig game, Hunting ispermitted Hunting andFishing enjoy theRefuge’swildlife. cameras, andfieldguidestofully encouraged tobringbinoculars, turkeys, andraccoons.Visitors are song birdsaswellresidentdeer, for viewingneotropicalmigrant provides anexcellentopportunity down thesevenmilePowell Road Refuge’s abundantwildlife.Adrive andphotographingthe for observing andaspectacularview information towerprovide kiosk andobservation along thisdrive.Aninterpretive birds, aswellresidentwildlife bald eagles,shorebirds,wading waterfowl, expect toseemigratory shoreline ofOnealLake.Visitors can extends overtwomilesaroundthe near theRefugeheadquarters, Oneal LakeWildlife Drive,located opportunities toviewwildlife.The The Refugeoffersavarietyof Photography and Wildlife Observation schools andotherorganizedgroups. ontoursfor office forinformation opportunities. ContacttheRefuge education, andinterpretive photography, environmental hunting, fishing,wildlifeobservation, Recreational activitiesinclude Recreational Opportunities health ofwinteringwaterfowl. important insupportingthenutritional invertebrates whichareextremely Gary Henry Refuge Regulations While everyone is encouraged to visit N Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge, there are regulations in effect to protect not only the wildlife, but also Ey the visitor. The public is allowed on the Refuge during daylight hours only. Certain areas are closed to all public access QR from November 15 through March 15 to provide sanctuary for wintering waterfowl. Only legally licensed vehicles are allowed on the refuge. All wy ATV’s, UTV’s, and off-road motorized vehicles are prohibited. All vehicles are required to stay on established roads, which may be closed at u any time due to adverse weather conditions or management needs.

A Refuge permit is required for hunting and is available at the Refuge office or online at fws.gov/ hatchie/brochures.html. Refer to Further the regulations leaflet to verify information Refuge hunting seasons and fishing may be obtained regulations. at the Hatchie NWR office, The following uses are prohibited on which is located the Refuge - swimming, camping, at Oneal Lake on fires, and the consumption or Hwy 76. possession of alcoholic beverages. Pets must be on a leash or confined. From Memphis, Dogs under verbal control are TN take I-40 allowed during certain Refuge east to Exit 52. hunting seasons. The taking of any Exit north onto object, such as arrowheads, antlers, Hwy 76, then go vines, pottery, or other artifacts, is 1.5 miles to the prohibited. Refuge Office on the right. Contact the Refuge Headquarters for a complete list of Refuge Regulations. From Nashville, TN take I-40 west to Exit 56. Exit south onto Hwy 76, go 3 miles to the Refuge Office on the left. Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge 6772 Highway 76 South Stanton, Tennessee 38069 731/772 0501 http://www.fws.gov/hatchie

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

August 2012