U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge Managed as part of Sherburne Complex Tom Carlisle This basin contains over one-half million acres of hardwood swamps, lakes and bayous, and is larger than the vast Okefenokee Swamp of Georgia and Florida. It is an immense This blue goose, natural floodplain of the Atchafalaya designed by J.N. River, which flows for 140 miles south “Ding” Darling, from its parting from the Mississippi has become the River to the Gulf of Mexico. symbol of the National Wildlife The fish and wildlife resources Refuge System. of the Atchafalaya River Basin are exceptional. The basin’s dense bottomland hardwoods, cypress- tupelo swamps, overflow lakes, and meandering bayous provide a tremendous diversity of habitat for many species of fish and wildlife. Ecologists rank the basin as one of the most productive wildlife areas in North America. The basin also supports an extremely productive sport and commercial fishery, and provides unique recreational opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Americans each year. Wildlife Every year, thousands of migratory waterfowl winter in the overflow swamps and lakes of the basin, located at the southern end of the great Mississippi Flyway. The lakes of the lower basin support one of the largest wintering concentrations of canvasbacks in Louisiana. The basin’s wooded wetlands also provide vital nesting habitat for wood ducks, and support the nation’s largest concentration of American America’s Great River Swamp woodcock. More than 300 species of Deep in the heart of Cajun Country, resident and migratory birds use the basin, including a large assortment at the southern end of the Lower of diving and wading birds such as egrets, herons, ibises, and anhingas. Mississippi River Valley in southcentral Eagles, ospreys, swallow-tailed kites, Steve Maslowski and Mississippi kites can occasionally Louisiana, lies the nation’s largest Wood duck; be seen soaring overhead. Wild turkeys have been reintroduced to complex of forested wetlands — the photo opposite: Lake Martin, Cypress the basin and their populations are Island by Donna increasing. Atchafalaya River Basin. Bush © Forest-dwelling mammals include The basin’s commercial fisheries are the white-tailed deer, gray and also extremely valuable. Crawfish are fox squirrels, eastern cottontail, by far the most important component, swamp rabbit, gray and red fox, with an estimated average annual coyote, striped skunk, and opossum. commercial harvest of nearly 22 Commercially important furbearers million pounds. The most important found in this great swamp are commercial finfishes include catfish, raccoon, mink, bobcat, nutria, buffalo, and freshwater drum. muskrat, river otter, and beaver. A The combined fish, wildlife, and Dave Schaffer small remnant population of black Public Land Red fox bears also exists. Management related recreational and commercial values of the Atchafalaya River Aquatic The aquatic resources of the basin are Basin are so important that a major Resources phenomenal. The Atchafalaya River cooperative state and federal effort and its myriad bayous, overflow lakes, is underway to preserve and manage and seasonally flooded hardwood the natural resources of the area. swamps support a great abundance of fish and crustaceans. The lifeblood The Louisiana of the fishery is the basin’s annual Department flooding and dewatering cycle. of Wildlife and Overflows result from the winter Fisheries owns and spring rains, with many areas the 11,780-acre gradually becoming dewatered Sherburne Wildlife during the summer and fall. This ebb Management Area. and flow of water continually revives The U.S. Fish and food and nutrient production, thus Wildlife Service contributing to the diversity and has established abundance of the fishery. Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge on Sportfishing is popular throughout 15,220 acres adjacent the basin. to the Sherburne Largemouth Wildlife Management bass, white and Randy Lennon Area. In addition, black crappie, Great blue heron the U.S. Army warmouth, Corps of Engineers has purchased bluegill, redear over 16,000 acres in the vicinity of sunfish, and both of these areas. All of these channel catfish public lands are managed by the are the primary Louisiana Department of Wildlife species sought. and Fisheries under a cooperative More than multiagency agreement. Duane Raver 85 species of The Louisiana Department of Wildlife Warmouth fish occur in the basin, and and Fisheries manages public use their populations frequently exceed such as hunting and fishing on all the 1,000 pounds per acre. Red swamp lands as part of Sherburne Wildlife crawfish, white river crawfish, and Management Area. A self-clearing blue crabs are also important from check-in/check out permit is required both a sport and commercial harvest and a sport hunting or fishing license standpoint. or a LA Wild Stamp is required to enter any part of the management area, including the federal government lands. P P P P P P P P P P P P P P P Good forest management is essential Management Area. The refuge is to the protection and enhancement popular for white-tailed deer hunting of the wildlife within the basin. The and is especially noted for its youth Louisiana Department of Wildlife and handicapped hunts. and Fisheries, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish and The refuge is open year-round for Wildlife Service are responsible for sportfishing in accordance with state a wide range of forest management fishing regulations. programs on the preserved areas of Sherburne The State of Louisiana’s Sherburne the basin. These programs ensure Wildlife Wildlife Management Area is located that the area’s productivity for Management in the upper third of the Atchafalaya wildlife remains high. Planting, Area River Basin between Interstate 10 thinning, and selective vegetation and U.S. Highway 190. It covers regeneration approximately 11,780 acres and was are a few of established in 1983 by the Louisiana the forestry Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. management The area supervisor’s headquarters techniques is located east of Krotz Springs, utilized to Louisiana, on LA 975 approximately improve wildlife three miles south of U.S. Highway habitat. Mature 190. forests are also being preserved This wildlife management area is and left intact being managed to provide a variety for species which of habitats for native and migratory Dave Menke Wood duck pair require this wildlife and to promote public outdoor habitat. recreation. A camping area, boat launching ramp, and shooting range Atchafalaya The 15,220-acre Atchafalaya National are available for use by the public. National Wildlife Wildlife Refuge was established by Each year thousands of visitors Refuge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service F. Eugene Hester F. participate in hunting, fishing, in 1986. It is located adjacent to the Green-heron camping, wildlife photography, target Sherburne Wildlife Management shooting, and nature study. Area and is managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife The shooting range has and Fisheries under a cooperative accommodations for rifle, pistol, and agreement with the state. shotgun shooters to sharpen their marksmanship skills. Seasonally flooded impoundments exist for the benefit of migratory Hunting is waterfowl. Agricultural fields have permitted on been converted to native hardwood the Sherburne forests for both waterfowl and upland Wildlife wildlife. A large increase in the Management production of wood ducks and hooded Area for mergansers is being achieved through white-tailed the use of artificial nest structures. deer, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, Public hunting is allowed on the refuge woodcock, and for migratory waterfowl and upland waterfowl. and big game species. All seasons, rules, and regulations conform to those of the adjacent Sherburne Wildlife USFWS White-tailed deer Fishing is excellent for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Both hunting and fishing are subject to current state regulations, which are available from the headquarters office. The U.S. Army The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Corps of owns 50,000 acres within the Engineers Atchafalaya Basin. The Bayou Des Ourses (Bayou of the Bears) Area, which consists of over 16,000 acres is managed cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, as part of the Sherburne complex. The area is being managed to provide a variety of habitats for native and Donna Bush © migratory wildlife and to promote American alligator public outdoor recreation and access. For further information on USACOE A variety of outdoor recreational Lands, please contact: opportunities are offered such as hiking, birdwatching, hunting, Park Manager fishing, and horseback riding. Public U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hunting is allowed on the complex for 112 Speck lane migratory waterfowl, small game, and Port Barre, LA 70577 George Gentry big game species. Telephone: 337/585 0853 Little blue heron The Bayou Des Ourses Area is Equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from programs and activities of the located to the east of the Atchafalaya U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is available to River between Interstate 10 and all individuals regardless of physical or mental U.S. Highway 190. Season dates, disability. For information please contact rules, and regulations are found in the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office the Louisiana Department of Wildlife for Equal Opportunity, 1849 C Street, NW, and Fisheries State hunting pamphlet Washington, D.C. 20240. as part of the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area. For further information on the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area and/or public use of the Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, please contact: Area Supervisor Sherburne Wildlife Management Area P.O. Box 127 Krotz Springs, LA 70750 Ryan Hagerty Ryan Snowy egret Telephone: 337/566 2251 Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge 61389 Highway 434 Lacombe, LA 70445 Phone: 985/882 2000 Fax: 985/882 9133 E-mail: [email protected] U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://atchafalaya.fws.gov August 2006.